7. SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) Link to this
to the Minister of Agriculture
What steps has the Government recently taken to improve animal welfare in New Zealand?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister of Agriculture) Link to this
Last week I was delighted to announce that the Government will spend an extra $8.2 million over 4 years to boost animal welfare activities. This is the largest increase in animal welfare funding for over a decade, and it reflects the importance this Government places on maintaining the highest possible standards of animal welfare.
The vast majority of the funding will go to front-line services and will see the number of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry enforcement officers more than double. There is also additional funding for the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the SPCA, and for a major review of the Animal Welfare Act. This is a comprehensive package that, in addition to the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, will increase animal welfare compliance in New Zealand.
Hon Jim AndertonWhy has the Minister, in the new animal welfare code for 2010, allowed a religious group the right to cut the throats of animals without stunning them first, despite Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and scientific evidence that the animals suffer undue cruelty? This poses the serious question as to how this process will improve “animal welfare in New Zealand”.
If the member is referring to the Animal Welfare (Commercial Slaughter) Code of Welfare 2010, I have not allowed an exemption.
Why has the Minister approved in the animal welfare code one set of rules for the Muslim community, which is required to stun animals before slaughter, and another set of rules for the Jewish community, which is not required to stun animals before they have their throats cut—something that I refused to agree to when I was reviewing the code as Minister of Agriculture?