Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson has today secured a long overdue parliamentary inquiry into NSW animal welfare investigation and enforcement powers, which the community recognises as failing.

Mr Pearson has been in NSW Parliament for four years and has been frustrated at the glacial pace of change for animal protection law reform. However with the election of a second Animal Justice Party MP, Emma Hurst, the party now holds a significant balance of power, forcing parliament to turn its attention to the woeful state of protections for animals.

“The laws that protect animals in New South Wales are failing,” said Mr Pearson.

“This long overdue inquiry will put a spotlight onto exactly how the current enforcement agencies – charities already struggling with financing their animal shelters – manage to enforce and prosecute our animal cruelty laws, especially with minimal government funding.

“Former minister responsible for animal welfare, Niall Blair stated in the debate that charities are best placed to police our animal welfare laws because they are at ‘arm’s length’ from government.

“Arm’s length, not ‘under our watch’ is precisely the problem with our animal protection system.

“No other criminal activity in New South Wales is investigated by independent charitable organisations.

“Now we will be able to examine whether this unique arrangement works for the benefit of animals in protecting them and bringing perpetrators to justice, or as the community believes, does not,” said Mr Pearson.

The inquiry will commence in October and report by April 2020.

MEDIA CONTACT: ROSINA RAYNS, 0401 991 792

8th AUGUST 2019