Animal welfare disaster looming without state help

Monday, 27th April 2020

Queensland’s wildlife exhibitors and zoos are facing an economic and animal welfare disaster as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Wildlife operators and zoos have been financially struggling to keep their animals fed and cared for due to the lack of income from forced closures.

LNP Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett called on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to step up their responsibility for regulating and maintaining animal welfare in Queensland.

“Some of these businesses have up to two thousand animals that need to be fed and cared for while the gates remain shut,” said Mr Perrett.

“The situation is becoming more desperate by the hour and Annastacia Palaszczuk and her hapless Minister Mark Furner are doing nothing.

“The LNP has been inundated with calls from operators and members of the Wildlife Exhibitors Network demanding help.

“The Palaszczuk Government is responsible for animal welfare, something it is clearly failing to do.

“Urgent assistance and support is needed to avoid this preventable disaster.

“Mark Furner pretends to be the Tiger King of Queensland politics, but he is completely toothless.

“Labor needs to end its policy paralysis, so these animals don’t starve to death. “

LNP Member for Condamine Pat Weir said that businesses like the Darling Downs Zoo in his electorate were really struggling to keep up without customers coming through the door.

“The situation at the Darling Downs Zoo is dire and desperate,” Mr Weir said.

“I know the owners and they are passionate about their animals and the position the closures are putting them in is devastating.

“Darling Downs Zoo has a $110,000 monthly bill just to keep the animals fed and cared for”

“The zoo has even resorted to a GoFundMe page because they aren’t hearing a word from the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“I’ve taken the step of writing to Labor’s Mark Furner calling on him to urgently do something for the benefit of these animals and this important small businesses in our local community. “Time for the state to step up and help our exhibitors and zoos, otherwise there will be an animal welfare disaster in Queensland.”