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September, 2008
Egg Corporation
running scared as misinformation campaign
distributed
to local councils
The successful passing of motions
on 3 of Tasmania’s largest councils that only free-range eggs be
used at catered events has the battery hen industry running scared according
to Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT). Following the passing of the
successful motions, the Managing Director of the Australian Egg Corporation
Limited Mr James Kellaway and the President of the Tasmanian Commercial
Egg Producers Association Mr John Groenewold have written to Aldermen
throughout Tasmania stating that they ‘egg farmers care for their
birds’ and are ‘extremely concerned over actions that are
being taken by some Local Government bodies in Tasmania to ban the purchase
of cage produced eggs’.
According to AACT Battery-Hen
co-ordinator, Benedict Bartl:
That the Australian Egg Corporation
Ltd is seriously suggesting that all egg farmers care for their hens
is ludicrous given the exposure of conditions at Pitt’s Poultry
in April 2007 and again in February 2008.
The letter states that an invitation was extended the RSPCA CEO to visit
a ‘local cage production system’ and we question the value
in this given that this would be at a place and a time chosen by the
industry. This would not give a clear picture of the battery hen farming
industry. Battery hen farms do not have an open door policy as it is
in the best interests of the industry to lock away cruel practices from
the public eye.
AACT has been working with
Aldermen on Councils throughout Tasmania as the move towards an end to
battery hen farming in Tasmania and Australia gathers momentum. The momentum
is being carried over to other jurisdictions with councils in Victoria
and New South Wales likely to adopt similar positions in the coming months.
According to AACT Battery-Hen
co-ordinator, Benedict Bartl:
If the Australian Egg Corporation
Ltd wants to be accepted as a credible organisation that has the best
interests of hens first and foremost, it will immediately stop defending
the inherent cruelty of battery hen farms. Until it supports the abolition
of the battery hen industry, it will continue to be treated with derision
and ridicule.
For further Information:
Benedict Bartl 0417 032 832
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