AN Animal Justice Party MP emboldened by the NSW Greyhound industry ban has put intensive agriculture “on trial” and says the banning of certain farm practices is inevitable.
But the ultimate goal of Upper House MP Mark Pearson to halt all animal production is too much for even the Greens, who say it is absurd to suggest agriculture in NSW does not have a social licence.
Mr Pearson, NSW parliament’s sole Animal Justice representative, said he and his supporters were inspired by the passing of legislation banning greyhound racing in NSW last week.
“Whether we like it or not aspects of intensive farming will be put on trial,” Mr Pearson told The Land.
“And I will certainly be a catalyst for that.”
The Upper House MP had this year called for barbed wire on farms to be banned, and for wild Snowy Mountains brumbies to be left unchecked, and an increased focus on agriculture began in July when the Greyhound ban was announced by Premier Mike Baird.
Since then Mr Pearson has supported calls to ban live export, urged a halt to the kangaroo harvest, and suggested this week pig hunting with dogs be outlawed.
He has also vowed to hasten reforms already accepted as necessary by industry – including phasing out sow stalls, adopting pain-free mulesing, and embracing technology that would end the maceration of male chicks.
During the Greyhound debate primary producers feared the natural progression of the discussion would see animal wastage on farms targeted, and agriculture’s social licence questioned.
For his part Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair has consistently backed industry.
He said the use of animals on farms was different to the Greyhound industry on account of farmers’ dedication to best practice.
“I will neither introduce nor support legislation that prohibits or unnecessarily impedes intensive livestock farming in NSW, because it is not warranted,” Mr Blair said this week.
But Mr Pearson says change is unavoidable.
Whether we like it or not aspects of intensive farming will be put on trial
- NSW Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson
“In some ways the industries are already looking at what they do. Killing (male chicks) just because they’re born a certain sex isn’t going to fly with the average person for very long,” he said.
Mr Pearson admitted the social licence of agriculture and greyhound racing were not comparable – but said the industries were linked through use of animals.
“I wouldn’t say that (the two) are chalk and cheese,” he said.
“But the difference is with the greyhound industry is the criminal behaviour… it’s animal abuse and torture.
“I think the changes in agriculture will be more incremental”
Mr Pearson could form a six-seat bloc in the NSW Upper House if he sided with the party most closely aligned to his party’s political beliefs: The Greens.
But NSW Greens agriculture spokesman Jeremy Buckingham said he did not agree with Mr Pearson’s stance and said animals were an integral part of farming systems.
“Of course the industry should meet the highest standards, but any suggestion that it does not have a social licence is absurd," Mr Buckingham said.