Make suitable shelter mandatory for all farmed animals

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Morika Elek
PO Box 1127
NERANG QLD 4211
Total Signatures - 1,300
Sponsoring Member: The Clerk of the Parliament
Posting Date: 23/3/2021
Closing Date: 23/5/2021
Tabled Date: 25/5/2021
Responded By: Hon Mark Furner MP on 3/6/2021
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House there is presently no mandatory requirement for the provision of shelter from extremes of weather for farmed animals in the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. Authorities lack power to prosecute offenders for neglect of duty of care.

The lack of suitable shelter leads to prolonged suffering and deaths of hundreds of thousands of farmed animals each year from hypothermia or exposure to sun during heatwaves. The effects of climate change will create greater risks for farmed animals and an increase in cruel and inhumane suffering and deaths.

Your petitioners, therefore request the House to ensure legislation must include mandatory codes for provision of species-specific shelter and consider each species’ capacity to tolerate extremes in weather. Mandatory codes will give power to inspectors to investigate and as necessary prosecute with penalties commensurate with the degree of neglect. Guidelines for shelter must be outlined within mandatory codes and could include natural belt tree planting with sufficient foliage and canopy coverage for all paddocked animals to obtain shelter with capacity to lie down simultaneously without overcrowding, stand and move about freely under shade protection. Artificial structures must be durable and provide protection from strong UV rays. Shelters must protect from wind chill, hail and sun, allow good airflow without overcrowding and the ability for all animals to lie down simultaneously, stand and move about freely.