The Greens have backed calls from animal welfare groups and an equine veterinarian for an independent investigation and necropsy report into the death of the racehorse Anthony Van Dyck following Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare, said:

“Tuesday’s race was horrific. There are serious questions to answer about this racehorse death. There must be no industry cover-up.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the death of the Melbourne Cup racehorse Anthony Van Dyck.

Senator Faruqi said:

“This is the brutal reality of horse racing. Anthony Van Dyck’s death is a tragic but hardly unforeseeable outcome. Seven horses have now died as a result of the last eight Melbourne Cup races.

“Horse racing is deadly and completely inhumane. We need to shut this industry down.

“Killing horses for entertainment is barbaric. There is no place for commercial horse racing in our society.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that commercial horse racing is a cruel industry that cannot be trusted or fixed, following reports that retired racehorses continue to be slaughtered for pet food at knackeries in NSW.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare, said:

“The gambling-fuelled racing industry cannot be trusted or fixed. It’s time is up. We have to shut it down.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the federal government has done an extraordinary and devastating backflip on reducing stocking densities for cattle within the new Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL). The new Standards are due to come into effect on 1 November.

Senator Faruqi said:

In respect of the government response to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report Feasibility of a national horse traceability register for all horses, I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Australian Government’s response to the Senate inquiry into the feasibility of a national horse traceability register but said that work must immediately commence.

Senator Faruqi established the inquiry in early 2019, and the committee reported in November. Senator Faruqi said:

“It’s great that the government supports a traceability register, but now we need action.

 I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 758 in the terms circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

Senator FARUQI: I move the motion as amended:

That there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, by no later than 10 am on Thursday, 3 September 2020, the following documents:

(a) documents relating to the MV Al Kuwait voyage which departed Fremantle in June 2020, including:

   (i) all daily voyage reports,

   (ii) the end of voyage report, and

I rise to speak on the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Amendment (Dairy Cattle Export Chart) Bill 2020 as the Greens senator responsible for animal welfare.

The MV Al Kuwait that departed Fremantle in June was a horrific journey. According to the Independent Observersummary report, up to 5,000 of the sheep on board experienced severe or serious heat stress, with laboured breathing, open-mouth panting and appearances of being stressed or in extreme discomfort; 28 sheep died, and many more were hospitalised. We knew this was going to happen. We knew this was inevitable.

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the announcement that greyhound and horse racing will continue under Stage 4 lockdown in Victoria.

Senator Faruqi said:

“It beggars belief that greyhound and horse racing are continuing during Stage 4 lockdown in Victoria. This is totally absurd and galling.

“The powerful influence of the gambling-fuelled greyhound and horse racing industries has been laid bare. These industries are fundamentally incompatible with animal welfare.

“It’s still cruelty if no one’s watching.”