Dear Fellow Australians and people of all nationalities who love and respect animals:

Today, I was horrified when I read about this proposed bill  to amend the Criminal Code, to be presented by Sen Chris Back (Liberal).  The public has until 12 March 2015 to voice their concern and give their opinion about this cruel, inhumane and un-Australian piece of legislation, which, if passed, will allow all sorts of atrocities to be committed on vulnerable animals by greedy, perverse humans, to go undetected and unpunished. 

Specifically, Liberal Senator Chris Back has put forward a Bill which imposes criminal penalties on anyone who records evidence of malicious animal cruelty without reporting this to relevant authorities within one business day. Often, long term investigations are required to uncover systemic animal abuse across multiple facilities.The mandatory reporting requirements under this Bill reduce the capacity to gather evidence and build a case. It also has the potential to characterise incidents of malicious animal cruelty as “one offs”.

Under this Bill, the recent exposé of animal cruelty within the greyhound racing industry would have likely been a criminal act.

From an animal welfare perspective, the operation of this proposed Bill is backwards: it could target undercover investigators and whistleblowers who expose illegal acts of animal cruelty, rather than the perpetrators of that cruelty. Colloquially known as ‘ag-gag’, ithis Bill has nothing to do with animal protection.

Sen Black is dead wrong in his thinking and should be stopped before he does more damage. Didn’t Australia have enough with the horrors and depravities committed against innocent animals during the live export scandal?

Recently, France passed a law which recognises that animals are sentient beings. The law in France protects animals from unnecessary, perverse pain. Why cannot Australia do the same instead of allowing its politicians to think of disgusting pieces of pseudo legislation to cover up and silence whatever happens to these wonderful and trusting creatures?

I believe that we, the public, should have an outlet to voice our concern and disgust at this project and therefore very respectfully, I am starting a petition that can be delivered to the Federal Senate prior to 12 March 2015, which is the deadline to hear what the citizens and residents of Australia think and want.

I urge you to sign this petition to stop Sen Back from presenting this nauseating piece of legislation and to show politicians what real, peaceful and generous Australians and people of all nationalities think about this project.

I am not only happy but honoured to start this. I love and respect all animals and I believe that having animals is not a right, but a privilege. Animals should be respected and cared for. People who mistreat and torture them, should be stopped and punished.

I honestly think that we, the citizens of this very mistreated planet, who care for vulnerable and innocent animals, must have our voice heard and this petition is our only chance.

Please sign and circulate. 12 March is a few days away.

Thanking you in advance,

Silvia Levame

Sydney, NSW, Australia