Animals

WA Greens: It was only a matter of time before more distressing live export footage emerged

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Thu, 23/10/2014 - 10:17

Media statement, Thursday, 23 October 2014.

In response to more horrific footage of live export slaughter on the streets of Gaza, Kuwait and Jordan aired on Lateline last night, Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said ‘it was only a matter of time until more evidence emerged of horrendous mistreatment of Australian sheep and cattle in the Middle East’.
Read more »

Premier's rogue shark nonsense is endangering Western Australians

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 17/10/2014 - 09:11

 Media statement, Friday, 17 October 2014

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says documents justifying a Federal Government exemption that enabled protected great white sharks to be killed off Esperance this month raise doubts about the quality of information the WA Premier fed to the Federal Environment Minister.

"It seems that Premier Barnett's continuing 'rogue sharks' fantasy might have led to him to make dubious claims to the Federal Environment Minister," Ms MacLaren said. Read more »

Shark focus should be on preventative action

Submitted by Shane Guthrie on Fri, 03/10/2014 - 10:07

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has expressed concern that the WA Government exceeded its own Imminent Threat Guidelines this week to seek Federal permission to kill sharks in Esperance following serious injuries to a young surfer. 

“First and foremost, my thoughts are with Mr Pollard. I sincerely  wish the best possible recovery for him, as he and his family and friends deal with what has happened,” Ms MacLaren said. 

“The incident has highlighted how the shark hazard in WA is spread right along our vast coastline, and it confirms that these incidents occur throughout the year, and not just November to April.  Read more »

Dunsborough swimming enclosure “success” not supported by evidence

Submitted by Shane Guthrie on Thu, 25/09/2014 - 10:22

Claims by the State Government that a net-style shark-proof swimming enclosure at Dunsborough was a “success” are not supported by evidence showing structural holes in it large enough for sharks to swim through, the WA Greens say.

“As evidenced by photographs and eye witness accounts, the Old Dunsborough net enclosure, which was modelled on Gold Coast gear, had huge holes due to poor design,” Greens MLc Lynn MacLaren said.

“This begs the question why the WA Government thumbed its nose at

 using the WA technology known as Eco Shark Barrier, which eventually was tested, using private money due to State Government lack of interest, at Coogee, and was a huge success.

“Despite not yet releasing the review of last summer’s Dunsborough enclosure, which was due in June, the Premier is claiming the Dunsborough net was a complete success. Read more »

Court decision proves urgent need for truthful egg labelling bill: Greens

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Wed, 24/09/2014 - 10:07

Media statement, Wednesday, 24 September 2014.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren is urging the State Government to support her truthful egg labelling bill after egg producer Pirovic Enterprises were yesterday fined $300,000 for misleading consumers by labelling their products as free range. 
 
“The case pursued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission revealed that stocking densities and flock sizes in Pirovic’s barns meant that most of the laying hens could not move about freely. Read more »

Greens confirm: Premier to seek Federal approval of drum line program

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Wed, 17/09/2014 - 09:04

Media statement, Wednesday 17 September 2014

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren confirmed in Parliament last night that the WA Government will seek Federal approval of a three-year drum lining proposal despite the Premier promising on Thursday that he would scrap the planned annual shark cull.

"You have to wonder what the Premier's motives are for asking the Federal Environment Minister to approve a proposal that the Premier himself has as good as admitted it is not worth pursuing because it is environmentally unsound," Ms MacLaren said. Read more »

Green light for summer 2014 drum line operation warrants re-examination

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 12/09/2014 - 09:00

Media statement, Friday, 12 September 2014

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren says confirmation by the CSIRO this week that shark culling was unacceptable on environmental and scientific grounds raises fresh questions about why the 2014 drum line trial went ahead without any form of environment assessment.

“I have questions and concerns about Department of Fisheries’ advice that stated that there was no serious risk to shark populations from the WA drum line operations – this being advice that the Department gave in both January 2014 about the 2014 program and in April about the three-year proposal,” Ms MacLaren said. Read more »

EPA common sense on sharks welcome although some questions remain

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Thu, 11/09/2014 - 14:43

Media statement, Thursday, 11 September 2014.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has applauded the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for making a common sense recommendation by advising against the WA Government’s proposed shark cull.

“Following this week’s revelations of poor process by the EPA’s board and Chair, this outcome on sharks goes a small way to redeem the EPA board in the public eye,” Ms MacLaren said.
Read more »

Government continues shark survey cover-up in WA Parliament

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Fri, 29/08/2014 - 10:45

Media statement, Friday, 29 August 2014.

Green MLC Lynn MacLaren, who will join Sea Shepherd today at Parliament at 12:30 for a media conference, says not only did the WA Government hide key data from the Federal Government over its drum line strategy it has also continued to cover up in the WA Parliament.

“I have been asking questions in Parliament about the Government’s 2013 $53,000 community perceptions survey on sharks since May, and more recently about the total $1 million Marketforce contract, begun in 2012 as a four-year program,” Ms MacLaren said. Read more »

Carnaby’s Cockatoos facing extinction, Greens call for new laws

Submitted by Nadine Walker on Mon, 25/08/2014 - 17:29

Media statement, Monday, 25 August 2014

Figures released today by Birdlife Australia that Carnaby’s Cockatoos are set to be extinct in Perth within the next 20-30 years have confirmed fears by the community fighting so hard to save them, explained Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren.

“Having previously volunteered for the Great Cocky Count – a hugely successful citizen science project – I found the results released today heartbreaking. We must act quickly and drastically to save this species before it is too late. I congratulate the near 700 volunteers who gave their time for this cause. They have added a critical piece to the puzzle of declining numbers. Read more »