End Rodeo Cruelty
Petitioner:
Ms Louise Webb
| Member:
Holland, Michael
| No. of Signatories:
4,156
| Date closed:
23/11/2023
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
We bring to the attention of the House:
The activities undertaken at rodeos are defined as cruel in the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and rodeo operators need a special exemption from this law to conduct events.
Every animal welfare organisation opposes rodeos because they cause distress, fear and potential serious injury and death to the animals used.
Calves used can be unweaned or newly weaned yet subjected to "rope and tie" events which risk severe injury.
Several academic studies have shown clearly that rodeo activities create fear and high stress levels in the animals.
A 2022 survey by McCrindle showed that 67 per cent of Australians were concerned or very concerned about the welfare of animals at rodeos.
Rodeo activities do not reflect best practice stock management, where low-stress handling is valued.
Rodeo operators are not required to keep records of stock injuries and deaths at their events nor to make this information publicly available (unlike the requirement for horse racing).
The only protection for rodeo animals is a 35-year-old code of practice which has never been updated, despite the code itself calling for two-yearly reviews.
The ACT has banned rodeos, and Victoria and South Australia have effectively banned calf roping. Many overseas jurisdictions have banned or partially banned rodeos.
We therefore ask the Assembly to call on the Government to prohibit the continuation of rodeos as unjustifiable cruelty in 21st century Australia.
