(Adopted August 2014; updated February 2020)
Principles
The Queensland Greens believe that:
1. Having respect for all life requires consideration of the needs and interests of animals.
2. Animals have the capacity to feel pleasure and pain and have varying levels of consciousness.
3. Protection of native animals is best done in their habitat if its sensible to do so.
4. There needs to be further development of humane strategies to manage wild animal populations.
5. The Brambell2 recommendations should be applied to the treatment of all animals in our care, namely.
a) Freedom from thirst and hunger.
b) Freedom from discomfort.
c) Freedom from pain, injury, and disease.
d) Freedom to express normal behaviour.
e) Freedom from fear and distress.
6. Companion animals should be bred and re-homed responsibly to prevent their abandonment and euthanasia.
7. Education of the community is important to foster understanding of the capabilities, needs and interests of animals.
8. Management of animals should incorporate advancements in research.
Aims
The Queensland Greens will:
Native Animals
1. Protect and restore the natural habitat of Australian native animals including marine and fresh water species.
2. Prohibit hunting native reptiles, birds and mammals for sport or economic exploitation, excluding traditional hunting by Indigenous peoples.
Wild Introduced Animals
3. Ban those poisons and trapping methods which cause extreme suffering, and support research into more humane methods of population management.
4. Discourage development of industry based harvest of invasive animals and replace this system (including bounties) with scientifically based impact reduction.
Animals Farmed for Food and Fibre
5. Phase out intensive animal farming practices.
6. Phase out live export of farmed animals.
7. Enforce standards to protect the welfare of farmed animals from producer to consumer (including those used for personal or local use), including minimising transport distances to slaughter, training and inspection for positive animal handling to prevent stress and injury, and mandatory pre-stunning of all animals to be slaughtered.
8. Promote selective breeding practices that minimise harmful physiological defects.
9. Ban the import of animal products which are produced in conditions which do not meet Australian standards.
Animals as companions
10. Work with other states to implement a nationally consistent Breeder/Supplier Permit system for anyone who breeds cats and/or dogs (purebred or non-purebred) based on user-pays inspections for compliance with legislated standards for the care and re-homing of breeding animals and their litters.
11. Mandate the de-sexing of all kittens prior to sale or transfer unless being transferred to a permit holding breeder.
12. Develop co-operative de-sexing subsidy programs for cat and dog owners in financial need to prevent unplanned breeding.
13. Work with other states to implement nationally consistent legislation to require micro-chipping of all cats and dogs coded with breeder contact details prior to sale or transfer.
14. Work with other states to implement nationally consistent standards of care for animals in pet shops.
15. Introduce support programs to enable elderly people to care for their companion animals in their homes and independent living facilities.
16. Promote selective breeding practices that minimise harmful physiological defects.
17. Require the de-sexing of animals bearing characteristics harmful to their well-being or others.
Animals used for entertainment
18. Ensure that enforceable welfare standards are applied for all animals used in entertainment including zoos, circuses, theme parks, racing and rodeos.
19. Require the entertainment industries to report on the numbers of animals culled and make efforts to re-home animals not suited to the industry.
Animals used for research and teaching
20. Encourage alternatives to experiments on animals in medical and scientific research.
21. Encourage avoidance of euthanasia of animals solely for teaching.
Legislation
22. Work with other states to achieve nationally consistent animal welfare legislation.
23. Work with the federal government to develop and enforce uniform national legislation to prevent illegal animal trade.
24. Introduce certification standards and independent inspection of animals used by humans for breeding, food production, research and entertainment to ensure animals’ physical and cognitive needs are met.
25. Strengthen penalties for cruelty to animals and require the completion of an animal care course for anyone found guilty of cruelty or neglect.
Education
26. Work with other states to incorporate ethical frameworks and principles regarding the treatment of animals in relevant educational curricula.
27. Ensure the provision of safe and adequate facilities, equipment, training and working conditions for farming, animal transport and slaughterhouse employees.
Industry
28. Enforce standards to protect the welfare of farmed animals from producer to consumer recognising that mistreatment often arises from inadequate operating practices and systems in an industrial system.
29. Facilitate installation of video-recording equipment for improved animal welfare monitoring with safeguards in place allowing exclusive access by the regulator.
30. Adopt best practice for loading and transporting of animals ensuring they are well cared for during transportation.
31. Enhancing regulator’s inspection regimes for farming animal transport and slaughterhouses through adequate resourcing.
Footnotes:
1 For the purpose of this policy “animals” refers to Vertebrates and Cephalopods.
2 Brambell Committee, 1965 and The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, (UFAW, 1994).