Question On Notice No. 6400 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 October 2012 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Parliament: 38 Session: 1
Question
Further to question without notice No. 826, I ask —
(1) With reference to the statement 'The Minister is aware that a recent survey by Australian Pork Limited indicated that 80 per cent of Australian pork production is already coming from facilities that comply with this goal' (namely the phasing out of gestation stalls), will the Minister please confirm that this means that the piggeries supplying the pork do not use gestation stalls in any part of the pork production process?
(2) Will the Minister please provide details of the breeding facilities that are employed in those piggeries?
(3) Will the Minister please detail the conditions in which the non-breeding pigs are kept in those piggeries?
(4) Will the Minister please explain what is meant by the commonly used marketing term for pig products 'bred free range' and in particular —
(a) are there any specified stocking densities that must be complied with in relation to the term 'free range'; and
(b) how long do the piglets that are 'bred' free range remain unconfined in stalls?
(5) With reference to the statement 'all Coles branded pork products produced in Australia and overseas will be sourced from pigs not confined in sow stalls' —
(a) does this mean that the piggeries from which the pork is sourced do not employ sow stalls; or
(b) merely that the pigs that go to slaughter to produce pork products are not confined in sow stalls?
Answered on 27 November 2012
(1)-(3) The Minister was drawing the member's attention to the survey by Australian Pork Limited. The Department of Agriculture and Food did not conduct the survey. If the member seeks further information about the survey she should ask Australian Pork Limited.
(4)(a)-(b) The term 'bred free range' is a general descriptive term used in the marketing of pork products and without a defined meaning under animal welfare legislation.
(5)(a)-(b) The Minister was drawing the member's attention to an announcement by Coles. If the member seeks further clarification of the statement she should ask Coles.
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