SAFE is reasserting its formal complaint which highlights
the urgent need for reassignment of the ministerial animal
welfare portfolio due to serious and egregious conflicts of
interest.
The complaint, sent to Prime Minister
Christopher Luxon on 10 November, outlines several issues
relating to Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew
Haggard’s oversight of animal welfare.
SAFE Chief
Executive Debra Ashton says Minister Hoggard’s close
personal ties to the farming, trade, and animal agriculture
sectors significantly compromise his ability to act
impartially when it comes to the welfare of animals. “What
we have consistently seen since Minister Hoggard was given
oversight of animal welfare are very clear cases of industry
capture going unchecked and animal welfare repeatedly being
sidelined.”
“The current oversight of this ministerial
portfolio raises serious concerns about conflicts between
industry and economic interests and animal welfare
obligations” says Ashton.
Examples cited in SAFE’s
complaint include the proposed reversal of the ban on live
animal export by sea, the ongoing controversy surrounding
the use of farrowing crates for pigs, and Minister
Hoggard’s prominent public endorsement of the highly
contentious practice of rodeo.
“The response we
received from the Prime Minister’s office was evasive and
has not addressed the key issues raised” says
Ashton.
Ashton also points to comments made by to
Minister Hoggard to the media this week when he stated SAFE
is angling for a vegan minister to oversee animals’
welfare, and his baseless declaration the organisation is
opposed to people having companion animals.
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“These
ridiculous statements seem quite desperate and highlight how
out of touch the Coalition Government is with organisations
genuinely working to improve animal welfare,” says Ashton.
“Ultimately what is needed is independent oversight of our
animal welfare system, but to address these immediate issues
of industry capture, the Prime Minister must reassign the
animal welfare portfolio to a minister will provide
unprejudiced oversight.”
During his tenure as the
minister responsible for animal welfare Hoggard has gained a
reputation for ignoring independent animal welfare science,
disregarding the advice of the National Animal Welfare
Advisory Committee (NAWAC), sidestepping equitable
consultation, and contravening High Court
rulings.
SAFE’s formal complaint also references
parliamentary guidelines, which stipulate that ministers
must avoid situations where personal or professional
interests influence their official duties with
‘substantial and enduring conflicts’ warranting
reassignment of portfolio responsibilities.
“The
bottom line is Minister Hoggard having oversight of the
welfare of hundreds of millions of animals across the
country compromises the integrity of governance” says
Ashton.
“There is a very clear solution, and we will
continue to pursue this matter until the animal welfare
portfolio is reassigned to a minister who will provide
unbiased
oversight.”
Notes:
SAFE
is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights
organisation.
We’re creating a future that
ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work
empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves,
animals and our
planet.
