Speech to the New Zealand Companion Animal Council Conference
Thank you Bob, and thank you to the New Zealand Companion Animal Council for inviting me here today to talk with you about animal welfare.
Can I acknowledge Joyce D’Silva Joyce, Ambassador and former Chief
Executive of Compassion in World Farming, and my fellow MPs – Trevor
Mallard, Mojo Mathers, Ian McKelvie and Andrew Williams.
We all know that New Zealanders place a lot of importance on animal welfare, and rightly so. As a farmer I know that having happy, healthy stock improves overall economic performance and many people take real pride in their animals.
I also know the importance of pets to our families, and that most New Zealanders care deeply about their pets and consider them to be a member of the family. Sixty eight per centof New Zealand households have at least one pet.
As well as the moral imperative for animal welfare, it’s also very important to our economy. Around half of our export earnings as a nation are animal products.
We pride ourselves on our assurance to the world that we have high standards of animal welfare. Even isolated cases of poor animal welfare can have a negative impact on our reputation as a responsible agricultural producer.
That’s why I’m always pleased to see organisations outside of Government taking a stand and condemning bad animal welfare situations and cruelty cases. We all need to work together to ensure everyone meets their responsibilities under our animal welfare legislation.
I thank the New Zealand Companion Animal Council for its efforts in raising awareness about animal welfare. As we know, preventing animal cruelty becomes all the more important as the links between animal abuse and domestic violence are explored.
Animal welfare act
New Zealand has a strong animal welfare system. This system is supported by progressive animal welfare legislation that goes further than just preventing cruelty. It also places an obligation on all people in charge of animals to meet their animals’ needs.
A particular strength of our animal welfare system is that all the players – government, industry, professionals, non-government organisations, and scientists – work together to promote and ensure high standards of animal welfare.
You’ve got some interesting issues to tackle at this conference. I noticed that the political debate you’re having in the next session asks “is this review of the Act an honest and thorough attempt to improve it, or just a shallow attempt to cure a few minor ailments”.
The fact of the matter is that the Act is not broken, and it does not need a major overhaul – the policy and principals on which the Act is based remain valid. What does need to be addressed are some operational issues that have prevented the Act from being as effective as it could be. This is especially true in terms of enforcing the Act.
Colin Holden from the Ministry for Primary Industries will take you through the specific changes in the Bill in a few minutes. These will make a real difference to the lives of poorly treated or managed animals, especially the new enforcement tools for low-to-medium level offending.
Sadly, animal welfare inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries and the SPCA still see a range of disturbing cases.
I’m proud of the work that animal inspectors do. It can be a difficult job with some terrible situations, but their work has led to tough penalties imposed by the courts.
I don’t want to upset you with any graphic details, but in August an Ashburton dairy herd manager was convicted on serious animal welfare charges after breaking 154 cow tails.
MPI was alerted to concerns and a compliance investigation began.
This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable to MPI and the wider farming community. If animal welfare abuse of this nature is detected it will almost certainly result in prosecution.
It’s extremely disappointing because the vast majority of farmers and farm employees take their obligations very seriously.
Several of the sessions at this conference are devoted to the issue of sentience. Personally, I find it hard to believe that some people still try to contend that animals are not sentient. All we really have to do is come home after a long day to see your dog jumping around with joy to see you to know that animals experience pleasure as well as pain.
The Animal Welfare Act is clearly based on the principle that animals are sentient. This is why the Act requires owners and people in charge of animals to meet their animals’ physical, health, and behavioural needs. It also requires people to alleviate animals’ suffering. The experiences of animals matter to them and they matter to us as ethical human beings.
I know there has been a lot of discussion regarding ‘sentience’, and it is mentioned in the Animal Welfare strategy I released earlier this year. It is not currently in the Bill but I’m looking forward to seeing the Select Committee’s report on all the issues raised in submissions, including whether sentience should be included.
Psychoactive animal testing
Another big issue this year has been the possibility of testing psychoactive substances on animals. I’ve had a lot of emails and letters on this issue this year.
I share the concerns raised, and so does the Government.
This is why the Government has agreed that the Primary Production Select Committee will now consider an amendment seeking to ban testing of psychoactive substances on animals.
It’s important to note that we already have very strong controls in place, and that party pills have never been tested on animals in New Zealand. In fact, the existing conditions are so tight that I’m advised it’s unlikely any animal testing would ever take place.
The Government has previously introduced amendments to the Psychoactive Substances Bill which would prevent drug makers experimenting on animals if there were alternatives that would prove the drugs could be approved for sale.
However this amendment will allow thecommittee to look at this issue in depth and for the public to have their say before a final decision is made.
Tougher penalties
The Government has already brought in a range of new initiatives around animal welfare.
In 2010, we increased the maximum penalty for wilful ill-treatment of animals, and created a new penalty of ‘reckless’ ill-treatment.
Also in 2010, the Government allocated an additional $8.2 million over four years to boost animal welfare compliance and enforcement activities.
This enabled MPI to double the number of animal welfare inspectors, and to also provide some funding to the SPCA for its enforcement work. I want to acknowledge the work of the SPCA and the strong working relationship they have with MPI.
The money also supported the shared work programme, Safeguarding our Animals, Safeguarding our Reputation, which has produced key tools to support farmers and veterinarians involved in animal welfare cases, including those involving both domestic and animal violence.
In 2011, my predecessor David Carter, asked MPI to develop New Zealand’s first animal welfare strategy and review the Animal Welfare Act to ensure it was still up-to-date and meeting the needs of our animals.
During 2012, MPI undertook comprehensive public consultation on a draft strategy and options to improve the operation of the Animal Welfare Act and Cabinet considered the proposals.
As I mentioned earlier, this year I released the New Zealand Animal Welfare Strategy.
This is a high level framework for how we treat animals, setting out a formal foundation for New Zealand’s animal welfare legislation and policy.
The strategy lists four main routes to improved animal welfare:
Better planning to prevent animal welfare problems;
Better animal husbandry, science and technology;
Clear expectations and sanctions, with help for people to comply; and
Measuring animal welfare performance.
We also introduced the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill into the House. Submissions closed on 4 October and the Primary Production Select Committee will be reporting on the Bill in the New Year.
We still have a way to go with the Bill yet – but I think we’re well on the way to improving our already well-performing animal welfare system.
From the conference programme it looks like you have a couple of interesting days ahead of you. I wish you well in your discussions.
We all know that New Zealanders place a lot of importance on animal welfare, and rightly so. As a farmer I know that having happy, healthy stock improves overall economic performance and many people take real pride in their animals.
I also know the importance of pets to our families, and that most New Zealanders care deeply about their pets and consider them to be a member of the family. Sixty eight per centof New Zealand households have at least one pet.
As well as the moral imperative for animal welfare, it’s also very important to our economy. Around half of our export earnings as a nation are animal products.
We pride ourselves on our assurance to the world that we have high standards of animal welfare. Even isolated cases of poor animal welfare can have a negative impact on our reputation as a responsible agricultural producer.
That’s why I’m always pleased to see organisations outside of Government taking a stand and condemning bad animal welfare situations and cruelty cases. We all need to work together to ensure everyone meets their responsibilities under our animal welfare legislation.
I thank the New Zealand Companion Animal Council for its efforts in raising awareness about animal welfare. As we know, preventing animal cruelty becomes all the more important as the links between animal abuse and domestic violence are explored.
Animal welfare act
New Zealand has a strong animal welfare system. This system is supported by progressive animal welfare legislation that goes further than just preventing cruelty. It also places an obligation on all people in charge of animals to meet their animals’ needs.
A particular strength of our animal welfare system is that all the players – government, industry, professionals, non-government organisations, and scientists – work together to promote and ensure high standards of animal welfare.
You’ve got some interesting issues to tackle at this conference. I noticed that the political debate you’re having in the next session asks “is this review of the Act an honest and thorough attempt to improve it, or just a shallow attempt to cure a few minor ailments”.
The fact of the matter is that the Act is not broken, and it does not need a major overhaul – the policy and principals on which the Act is based remain valid. What does need to be addressed are some operational issues that have prevented the Act from being as effective as it could be. This is especially true in terms of enforcing the Act.
Colin Holden from the Ministry for Primary Industries will take you through the specific changes in the Bill in a few minutes. These will make a real difference to the lives of poorly treated or managed animals, especially the new enforcement tools for low-to-medium level offending.
Sadly, animal welfare inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries and the SPCA still see a range of disturbing cases.
I’m proud of the work that animal inspectors do. It can be a difficult job with some terrible situations, but their work has led to tough penalties imposed by the courts.
I don’t want to upset you with any graphic details, but in August an Ashburton dairy herd manager was convicted on serious animal welfare charges after breaking 154 cow tails.
MPI was alerted to concerns and a compliance investigation began.
This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable to MPI and the wider farming community. If animal welfare abuse of this nature is detected it will almost certainly result in prosecution.
It’s extremely disappointing because the vast majority of farmers and farm employees take their obligations very seriously.
Several of the sessions at this conference are devoted to the issue of sentience. Personally, I find it hard to believe that some people still try to contend that animals are not sentient. All we really have to do is come home after a long day to see your dog jumping around with joy to see you to know that animals experience pleasure as well as pain.
The Animal Welfare Act is clearly based on the principle that animals are sentient. This is why the Act requires owners and people in charge of animals to meet their animals’ physical, health, and behavioural needs. It also requires people to alleviate animals’ suffering. The experiences of animals matter to them and they matter to us as ethical human beings.
I know there has been a lot of discussion regarding ‘sentience’, and it is mentioned in the Animal Welfare strategy I released earlier this year. It is not currently in the Bill but I’m looking forward to seeing the Select Committee’s report on all the issues raised in submissions, including whether sentience should be included.
Psychoactive animal testing
Another big issue this year has been the possibility of testing psychoactive substances on animals. I’ve had a lot of emails and letters on this issue this year.
I share the concerns raised, and so does the Government.
This is why the Government has agreed that the Primary Production Select Committee will now consider an amendment seeking to ban testing of psychoactive substances on animals.
It’s important to note that we already have very strong controls in place, and that party pills have never been tested on animals in New Zealand. In fact, the existing conditions are so tight that I’m advised it’s unlikely any animal testing would ever take place.
The Government has previously introduced amendments to the Psychoactive Substances Bill which would prevent drug makers experimenting on animals if there were alternatives that would prove the drugs could be approved for sale.
However this amendment will allow thecommittee to look at this issue in depth and for the public to have their say before a final decision is made.
Tougher penalties
The Government has already brought in a range of new initiatives around animal welfare.
In 2010, we increased the maximum penalty for wilful ill-treatment of animals, and created a new penalty of ‘reckless’ ill-treatment.
Also in 2010, the Government allocated an additional $8.2 million over four years to boost animal welfare compliance and enforcement activities.
This enabled MPI to double the number of animal welfare inspectors, and to also provide some funding to the SPCA for its enforcement work. I want to acknowledge the work of the SPCA and the strong working relationship they have with MPI.
The money also supported the shared work programme, Safeguarding our Animals, Safeguarding our Reputation, which has produced key tools to support farmers and veterinarians involved in animal welfare cases, including those involving both domestic and animal violence.
In 2011, my predecessor David Carter, asked MPI to develop New Zealand’s first animal welfare strategy and review the Animal Welfare Act to ensure it was still up-to-date and meeting the needs of our animals.
During 2012, MPI undertook comprehensive public consultation on a draft strategy and options to improve the operation of the Animal Welfare Act and Cabinet considered the proposals.
As I mentioned earlier, this year I released the New Zealand Animal Welfare Strategy.
This is a high level framework for how we treat animals, setting out a formal foundation for New Zealand’s animal welfare legislation and policy.
The strategy lists four main routes to improved animal welfare:
Better planning to prevent animal welfare problems;
Better animal husbandry, science and technology;
Clear expectations and sanctions, with help for people to comply; and
Measuring animal welfare performance.
We also introduced the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill into the House. Submissions closed on 4 October and the Primary Production Select Committee will be reporting on the Bill in the New Year.
We still have a way to go with the Bill yet – but I think we’re well on the way to improving our already well-performing animal welfare system.
From the conference programme it looks like you have a couple of interesting days ahead of you. I wish you well in your discussions.