Animal welfare
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:16): (816) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture. 109 rats provided by Monash were recently used in a new study testing non-fatal strangulation on rats to study human intimate partner violence. The Alfred medical research and education precinct animal ethics committee approved the violent strangling, the following days of testing and the ultimate killing of the rats. The neurological and physiological systems of rats differ so significantly from humans that the study even states it is not appropriate to make direct comparisons between the human and rodent datasets. It also ignores the psychological complexities and dynamics of human strangulation events. Will the minister ban this horrific strangulation test in the animal care and protection bill to ensure this unscientific and cruel experiment is not conducted in Victoria again?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:17): I thank Ms Purcell for her question and her ongoing advocacy in this area. I will refer this matter to the relevant minister.
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:17): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. On top of the strangulation test, forced swim tests are still being used on rats in Victoria, where they are trapped in cylinders of water with no escape and timed for the duration that they can keep their heads above water. The animals are observed desperately looking for an escape while petrified. This is still continuing despite its relevance to the study of human depression being disproven. New South Wales, in recognition of its severe cruelty, recently banned it. Will the minister follow in their footsteps and ban forced swim tests in Victoria?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:17): I thank Ms Purcell for her supplementary question. That of course will also be referred to the relevant minister and will receive a response as per the standing orders.