Kedgley criticises Speaker over Animal Welfare Bill stance

Green MP Sue Kedgley says it is unfair and unjust that the Speaker will not allow a conscience vote on her Animal Welfare (Treatment of Animals) amendment bill scheduled to debated in the House tonight.

The Speaker has agreed to allow Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell’s Gambling bill to be voted on as a conscience issue, while denying the Animal Welfare Amendment bill the same privilege on the grounds that it is primarily an economic issue.

“I strongly support Te Ururoa’s Gambling bill being a conscience issue,” said Ms Kedgley.

“However it is absurd that the Speaker is refusing to allow a bill on animal welfare to be voted on as a conscience issue.

“Animal welfare is above all a moral and ethical issue, not an economic issue.

“Animal welfare deals with ethical issues such as whether it is acceptable to allow highly intelligent animals - such as pigs –to live miserable lives of suffering just to satisfy our desire for cheap meat.”

Ms Kedgley believes the Speaker was under pressure from the Government members of the Business Committee. The Government opposes the Animal Welfare (Treatment of Animals) amendment bill and Ms Kedgley says it is obvious that it did not want to allow its members to vote with their conscience on this important issue.

“I have requested a review of the standing orders around conscience votes,” said Ms Kedgley.

“There appears to be a lack of consistency in how standing orders are applied.

“In my view issues such as animal welfare - which are clearly about ethical and moral issues - should be entitled to a conscience vote.”

Animal protest advisory:  There will be a demonstration at Parliament today to draw attention to the fact that National and ACT are opposing the Animal Welfare (Treatment of Animals) bill.

A march will leave from the Civic Centre at 12:00pm and arrive at Parliament around 12:20pm.

People dressed as John Key and Rodney Hide will highlight how the National and Act Parties will be voting to support factory farming and institutionalised cruelty to animals.  People dressed as pigs and hens will also drag a sow crate the length of the march. Once at Parliament the pigs will be forced into the crate.