Agriculture Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
I am pleased to rise and speak very briefly on the Agriculture Legislation Amendment Bill 2022. This omnibus bill covers a lot of ground. I will not speak to it in detail, as my colleague the member for Melbourne has covered key points for the Greens in the other place. I would, however. like to flag the really important amendments I will be moving to this bill in the committee stage. The amendments I will move are to introduce a ban in Victoria on the general sale of a dangerous group of rat poisons known as second-generation poisons. I am happy for those amendments to be circulated now.
Greens amendments circulated by Dr RATNAM pursuant to standing orders.
Dr RATNAM: These poisons, which can be bought in a supermarket or hardware store, are harming and killing our native wildlife and also people’s pets—pet cats and dogs. There is absolutely no need for these poisons, as there are alternatives already available that are safe for wildlife and pets.
These amendments are exciting, because while they follow what has happened in Europe, the US and Canada, they are the first of their kind in Australia. I will explain the amendments and why they are so important more fully in the committee stage, and I strongly urge all MPs to consider supporting these amendments to protect our native birds, mammals and reptiles in Australia.