In the News
Council opts for free-range eggs
24 November 2009
Leichhardt Council has accepted a proposal submitted by Animal Liberation to ban the use of products made with eggs from caged hens.
The proposal has already been accepted by Sydney, Marrickville, Randwick and Hornsby councils who now only accept tenders from caterers who don’t use battery hen eggs in their food.
Animal Liberation spokeswoman Lynda Stoner said while getting councils to stop using eggs from battery hens wasn’t going to drastically reduce the number of eggs eaten, it would make people think about the cruelty associated with that type of farming.
“We are hoping that by getting the local councils to lead the way . . . businesses within that municipality will follow suit,” she said.
After the European Union voted to ban battery or cage production of eggs by 2012, the issue in Australia has moved higher on the public agenda.
The Australian Egg Corporation has witnessed a rapid change in community attitudes; a shift against intensive chicken farming that has left many farmers feeling victimised.
Corporation spokeswoman Jacqueline Baptista said many poultry farmers had spent thousands of dollars increasing cage sizes and decreasing the number of birds they raise without any government support.
“There are many who are disheartened as they have spent the money, done the right thing and now they are being criticised for not doing the right thing,” she said.
“In the end, consumers will be the ones driving any change because if a national ban is introduced, eggs are just going to be imported to meet that demand left in the market.”
Birchgrove Cruelty-Free shop owner Jessica Bailey, who met Leichhardt Mayor Jamie Parker to discuss the issue, said the idea was to drive change at a local level and end up global.
“It’s important that we continue to bring this issue into the public eye as I do think there is a lack of awareness about the atrocities caged hens are put through,” Ms Bailey said.
Back to latest news.