Hens Burned Alive

Abigail raised the devastating Victorian egg farm fire with the Government and asked what they're doing to prevent similar tragedies in NSW.

Abigail asked (16 November 2021 16:31):

My question is directed to the Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women, representing the Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales. Last week more than 45,000 hens were burned alive in a Victorian barn-laid egg farm after a fire broke out in one shed. Will the Minister commit to preventing this from ever happening in New South Wales by introducing mandatory smoke alarms and sprinklers in all indoor farming animal housing facilities?

The Hon. BRONNIE TAYLOR (Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women) (16:32): I thank the honourable member for her question, which is directed to the Hon. Adam Marshall, who resides in the other place, who I represent in this place. The member raises very serious concerns and very serious comments in her question, so I will make sure that I acknowledge that with an appropriate answer and I will take the question on notice and get back to the member as soon as is possible.

The Minister then provided the following response (7 December 2021):

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 requires a person to exercise reasonable care to prevent the commission of an act of cruelty to animals in their care. Fire management for indoor poultry housing systems has also been considered during the process currently underway to develop the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry (Poultry S&G).
Fire safety at indoor animal farming facilities is regulated by work health and safety and planning legislation, and fire sprinklers are installed based on a risk assessment of individual facilities.
The development of the Pig S&G has commenced; it is anticipated that fire management for indoor piggeries will be considered during this process.

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Hens Burned Alive

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