Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has called on the Government to commit to recognising veterinary and animal care, rescue and protection services as essential services during the COVID-19 public health crisis. With vets and animal welfare organisations in urgent need of clarity from the Government about their ability to operate under future restrictions and lockdowns, the Government now must declare these services essential.

Senator Faruqi said:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) 3 baboons made a bid for freedom in Sydney this week,

   (ii) the baboons were from a colony bred for use in research,

   (iii) animal testing causes harm and suffering to animals, and

   (iv) the episode has highlighted the community's concern for the welfare of animals used in experimentation and research;

(b) wishes the baboons well; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to:

   (i) ensure national transparency and accountability in the use of animals in research, and

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

   (i) unprecedented bushfires across Australia have burnt at least 10 million hectares of land, primarily in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and South Australia,

   (ii) an estimated 800 million animals have been killed in NSW, with national impact to more than 1 billion animals, including kangaroos, koalas, bats and reptiles, and

   (iii) wildlife carers have been on the frontline, rescuing and caring for injured animals, often at great emotional, financial, physical and emotional cost and sacrifice; and

I rise today to make an urgent plea for change. There are many things that these horrific bushfires have forced a rethink on—on this government's appalling, destructive and selfish lack of ambition to tackle the climate emergency; on how this government was warned of the bushfire crisis we just saw and did nothing. But tonight I want to highlight the need for Australia to draw a line in the sand and say that we will do everything in our power to save our wildlife.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, and Greens NSW Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Abigail Boyd MLC, have called on the NSW Government to follow the the lead of other State Governments and suspend kangaroo culling in the State following massive bushfire wildlife losses.

Senator Faruqi said:

The Federal Government’s announcement of $50 million to wildlife affected by the bushfire crisis is nowhere near enough and should be at least ten times as much, the Greens say.

Greens Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“The Government is taking a miserly approach to our iconic wildlife.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has called for State and Federal Governments to provide immediate support for wildlife carers and sanctuaries who are working day and night to save lives. An estimated half a billion animals have been killed in the fires in New South Wales alone so far.

Senator Faruqi said:

Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has released figures showing that The Gardens outside Newcastle is the deadliest track in New South Wales. The second deadliest tracks were Gosford, Nowra and Lismore with six deaths each. Wagga Wagga was the most likely for a dog to die, with one in five race meets resulting in a dead greyhound.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has visited Port Macquarie. The Senator, who formerly lived and worked in Port Macquarie, has visited the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital and called for more support for communities and firefighters.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Port Macquarie is my second home and my heart really goes out to the community who have suffered so much in and around the mid-north coast. We are seeing an unprecedented tragedy that has destroyed so much in the community and in the environment.

Australian Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to reports hundreds of Australian cattle sold for breeding to the Indonesian Government in 2018 are malnourished or dead. This new scandal has highlighted the lack of protections for breeder and dairy cattle. Senator Faruqi has called for the release of the full report into the incident.

Senator Faruqi said: