JUST IN: Fundraising in Tasmania

The Barristers Animal Welfare Panel Foundation was notified this morning that it has received approval to fundraise in Tasmania from Tuesday 23 July 2013, so that it is now able to offer memberships and accept donations from residents from all states and territories (except Queensland and New South Wales), and in respect of persons who…

JUST IN: Fundraising in Victoria, SA, WA, ACT and NT

The Barristers Animal Welfare Panel Foundation was notified this morning that it is now registered for fundraising in Victoria from Wednesday 24 July 2013, so that it is now able to accept donations from residents of Victoria. Accordingly, the Foundation is able to now offer memberships and receive donations in Victoria, SA, WA, ACT and…

Update: ACT Kangaroo Cull

The Panel’s legal team filed on behalf of the Australian Society of Kangaroos an application to review yesterday morning in the ACT CAT, challenging the Tribunal’s calculation of permissible eastern grey kangaroo kill numbers, having regard to the formula adopted in their reasons for judgement. If upheld, the application for review would have reduced the…

Just in: ACT CAT approves kangaroo cull, but reduces kill numbers

At 11 am today the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal gave its decision after 2 long days of hearing the application by Australian Society for Kangaroos to stop this year’s kangaroo cull, determining to approve the cull but on the basis that the permissible kill numbers be reduced by more than 200 animals. The Panel…

Federal Court find Baiada and Barrter mislead consumers on ‘free to roam’ meat chickens

In 2010 the Panel raised its detailed concerns over an extended period with the ACCC over marketing claims by poultry producers that their meat chickens had been ‘free to roam’ in large sheds. The ACCC subsequently initiated proceedings against Turi Foods, Baiada (owner of Steggles and Lilydale Free Range Chickens), Barrter and the Australian Chicken…

BSL radio interviews: Chair and National Co-ordinator

Our National Co-ordinator, Ana Smietanka, recorded a radio interview during the week to be broadcast tomorrow, Saturday 6 July, on http://www.pettalkradio.com.au/. Our Chair Graeme McEwen recorded a 30 minute interview during the week to be broadcast on Sunday 7 July between 1-2pm on Melbourne radio station 3CR and afterwards available to listen by podcast on freedomofspecies.org.

Doug is Released

Doug won at VCAT on 2 July 2013 and was returned home later that day. The VCAT member preferred the evidence of experienced veterinarian Dr. Jack Ayerbe and dog judge David Lowe to that of the two Mooney Valley local laws officers. VCAT found that Doug’s length, height, head, eyes, neck, feet, forequarters, hindquarters, loin…

BAWP intervenes to stay the execution of Kerser

The Barristers Animal Welfare Panel intervened this afternoon to help secure a stay of execution of Kerser, pending filing of appeal papers. The Panel has agreed to arrange counsel to conduct the appeal. Whilst no comment can be made on the Kerser case, you can click here to view the ABC TV 7.30 program interview with our…

$60,000 fine for abattoir

A Sydney abattoir has received a $60,000 fine for for what Magistrate Margot Stubbs characterised as “sickening” cruelty. For the full story click here.

Office of Animal Welfare

Bahrain Feed lot – Sheep handlers with training handling sheep Photo courtesy of Animals Australia The Australian Greens have introduced a bill for the Office of Animal Welfare. Below are excerpts from the media release from today: The Australian Greens have introduced a bill into the House of Representatives today to establish an independent Office…

“Cruelty free” cosmetics tested on animals for Chinese market

Above right: The Draize eye irritancy test. UPI/ Bettman Archive photo. Australian Competition & Consumer Law News reports that Choice has found that some cosmetics companies that advertise their products as “cruely free” are in fact testing their cosmetics on animals in order to be able to sell those products in China. For the full…

Bob Irwin and Colin Riddell launch Animal Coalition with Sea Shepherd Australia

Still from media coverage available here Bob Irwin and conservationist Colin Riddell have launched the Animal Coalition with Sea Shepherd. Already the Animal Coalition has signed 28 wildlife groups including Sea Shepherd, Animals Australia and RSPCA Qld. Together, they will fight for better wildlife protection by calling on the total ban on hunting and culling of more than…

Hunter warned of bird massacre

More than 800 ducks, many endangered, were killed and abandoned by hunters in an act criticised by Game Victoria as ‘appalling’. The slaughter embarrassed even the most hard-headed of hunters. More than 800 abandoned duck carcasses that shooters did not bother to pick up. At least 150 endangered ducks killed, many among Australia’s rarest. And other…

More animal cruelty claims in Malaysia

The controversial live exports trade is facing further scrutiny with fresh allegations of cruelty, this time concerning Australian goats and cattle in Malaysia.Already reeling from footage of Australian cattle being brutally slaughtered in Egypt, footage has emerged of goats being stuffed into sacks and put in the boot of a sedan in Malaysia. You can…

Live exports to Egypt suspended

Photo from The Age online. ‘Cattle wait in Darwin stockyards. Photo: Michele Mossop’ The Australia Livestock Exporters’ Council has voluntarily suspended live export to Egypt following the release of new footage of animal cruelty. You can view the ABC 7.30 Report’s story on 6 May 2013 and the footage here. You can read the Egypt trade suspension…

Two heavy crashes in Warrnambool Grand National Steeplechase

Here is the link to the Seven News report this evening on the annual Warrnambool (western Victoria) Grand National Steeplechase. The report’s video shows two heavy falls by horses. They were apparently uninjured this time. But in the five years to 2011, more than sixty horses have lost their lives in jumps racing events In Victoria and…

Voiceless Law Lecture Series: Panel members speak in Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney and Adelaide

Ruth Hatten (Legal Counsel for Voiceless), Antoine Goetschel (Guest Speaker) and Anastasia Smietanka (National Co-ordinator) Antoine Goetschel, Meg Good and Ruth Hatten Congratulations to our Tasmanian co-ordinator, Meg Good, our National Co-ordinator, Anastasia Smietanka and our Secretariat members Jed Goodfellow (NSW) and Aaron Timoshanko (SA) for their insightful lectures at the Voiceless Law Lecture Series…