Page 3955 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 15 Sept 2009
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to that is that the cages and space provided by Pace Farm at Parkwood exceed the agreed Australian standard.
If I misunderstand your question or misinterpret the issue in relation to size or space, Ms Le Couteur, I will take some advice on that. Having now had this issue raised with me, I will seek further advice, but my understanding—the understanding on which I have been proceeding in my assessment, most particularly, of your legislation—has been that the Pace egg farm and the cage capacity and facility at Parkwood exceed the Australian standards in relation to squarage or space required under that standard for each cage.
Ms Le Couteur, as always when you raise an issue, I take it seriously. I will take further advice on the matter and confirm that the advice or the understanding that I am proceeding on is in fact the case.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Le Couteur, a supplementary?
MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary question. First, can I clarify that I was talking about doors, not space, which are two different concepts.
My supplementary is: given that government agencies are, in effect, committed to purchasing the non-cage eggs from interstate, have you actually considered offering a contract to Parkwood to produce non-cage eggs in the ACT?
MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, it is the case, and the ACT government, I believe, was the first government in Australia to mandate that all eggs purchased by ACT government instrumentalities would be non-cage eggs. We have shown significant leadership as a government in that respect. I think it is an area or an example of leadership that does have a flow-on effect, and some of the issues around this issue of the welfare of hens and cage facilities are around leadership. I acknowledge that and I acknowledge the leadership that you are showing, Ms Le Couteur.
We have shown that in relation to the purchase of eggs. Indeed, the ACT government now only purchases non-cage eggs. As I have explained to you in discussions we have had, Ms Le Couteur, I believe there is an issue in relation to the purchase of egg product. So to put the issue beyond doubt, my understanding is that egg product is traditionally made by the producers of egg product from cage produced eggs, and I would want to be open about that in relation to the fact that we do purchase some egg product. The egg product that we purchase is probably egg product produced from caged hens. I am not sure what I can do about that.
I have made on a number of occasions, Ms Le Couteur, an offer of a $1 million payment to Pace Farm to convert their facility at Parkwood to barn production. Pace have not accepted that offer. Pace do not believe the offer is significant enough. I have not been inclined to increase that offer to date, but it is perhaps an issue going forward that the government will be prepared to give consideration to.
I have made a direct offer to the manager of Pace Farm of a $1 million payment to facilitate the conversion of their facility at Parkwood to barn production. That offer
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