MINISTER QUESTIONED IN HOUSE

Green MP Sue Kedgley continues to pressure the Minister of Agriculture over the issues of pig welfare in Parliament.

[Uncorrected transcript-subject to correction and further editing.]

SUE KEDGLEY (Green) to the Minister of Agriculture:

Is it his opinion that keeping sows in crates for weeks on end where they cannot even turn round is cruel; if not, why not?

Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister of Agriculture):

It is my opinion that it is cruel and unacceptable to have sows in crates indefinitely. This Government is committed to best practice in animal welfare, which is why, after viewing the recent disturbing footage, I have taken action and demanded that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee review with urgency the pig code of welfare. I hope the member and members of the public will make their views known to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.

SUE KEDGLEY:

Will the Minister make a commitment in this House that he will personally visit a range of intensive pig farms in New Zealand, preferably with the media, so that he can see at firsthand the suffering of pigs in sow crates, or will he continue to rely on the advice of the chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, who claimed on television recently that pigs are probably happy in sow crates?

Hon DAVID CARTER:

I have already visited a number of pig farms. I did not do so with the media, because I will make sure that best practice in animal welfare is delivered based on science and reason, not on blind emotion as that member would wish it to be.

SANDRA GOUDIE:

What reports has the Minister seen on the review of sow crates?

Hon DAVID CARTER:

I have seen reports that the previous two Labour Ministers of Agriculture, the Hon Jim Sutton and the Hon Jim Anderton, refused to ban sow crates, and emphasised the need for the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee process to be followed. I have also seen a report of the deputy leader of Labour, the Hon Annette King, on Newstalk ZB last month, supporting this Government's approach to the sow crate issue and agreeing with the actions I was taking. This is the responsible approach, and I thank Labour for taking that approach.

SUE KEDGLEY:

On the Minister's recent visits to intensive pig farms in New Zealand, did he discover that the practices that were screened on television recently are widespread in some pig farms, and will he therefore do as he and the Prime Minister promised and use his powers as Minister to require changes to the pig code, including the phasing out of sow crates; if not, why not?

Hon DAVID CARTER:

I ask that member to familiarise herself with the Animal Welfare Act. By law, I cannot override the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee process and ban sow crates immediately. Sections 70 to 79 of the Act make it absolutely clear that the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee process must be followed. That is the law that was passed by Parliament. I intend to adhere to the law, and I think that member should stop being irresponsible and should adhere to the laws of this land.