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

Lack of suitable shelter leads to extreme suffering and deaths of hundreds of thousands of farmed animals each year from hypothermia or exposure to sun during heatwaves. Climate change exposes farm animals to greater risks for disease without shade/shelter and an increase in cruel and inhumane suffering and deaths.

Mandatory codes are required to empower 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. Lack of shelter must be seen as a specific abuse with specific legislation to prosecute offenders.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to ensure specific legislation to include mandatory codes for provision of species-specific shelter and consider each species’ capacity to tolerate extremes in weather.