Mark Pearson | Politician

Mark Pearson

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25.01.2022 John Barilaro needs to read the room and really listen to what his constituents and the experts are saying. The Deputy Premier's decision to ignore EPA advice by insisting that Forestry Corp continue logging is a prime example of the NSW Government’s prioritisation of money over the environment. Remember, the EPA’s only interest is the environment they have no other agenda so their expert advice on environmental concerns should be treated as gospel, not side-stepped by a... government more concerned with the possibility of making a dollar. And here's the kicker - Forestry Corp are not even making a profit. They regularly run at a loss, meaning Deputy Premier Barilaro's insistence they keep logging to meet contracts makes no economic sense. Of course, to push them to keep logging during the aftermath of last summer’s horrific bushfires is not only financially senseless, but completely ethically reprehensible. We urgently need a state-wide moratorium on logging in all state and private forests where there is known koala habitat. This is not "just" my opinion - it's what the experts have been telling us. Earlier this year, I sat as Deputy Chair of a parliamentary inquiry into koala populations and habitat in NSW. Our inquiry found koalas could be extinct in NSW before 2050. We tabled 42 recommendations including creating new national parks and ruling out logging of trees in old growth forests. As I said then, and I will say it again: the focus should now be on creating and protecting more national and state parks and the vital corridors that connect them.

24.01.2022 Excellent news for kangaroos from America this week: Nordstrom will become the first major US retailer to stop selling products made from fur and exotic skins - including kangaroos. "The upscale department store’s announcement comes a year after Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s said they will no longer sell fur. But it goes a step further by banning products made from the skins of alligators, crocodiles, pythons, kangaroos and ostrich, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which has been working with the department stores."

23.01.2022 If the NSW Government's reckless koala policy goes ahead, we're going to see the extinction of koalas on the north coast. On Tuesday night, the NSW Government finally reached an agreement on some finer details of its controversial koala policy. Most crucially, it was agreed that NSW farmers and private native forestry operations will be exempt from the government's koala policy. The proposed guidelines would have forced landowners to provide more evidence that planned develop...ments would not impact koala habitats. Now, if this policy goes ahead, farmers and private forestry operators will be able to do whatever they want. This would be a disaster for koalas, particularly on the north coast. Most koalas between Port Macquarie and Tweed Heads live in trees on private property, and in the already sparse corridors between these fragmented areas of habitat. These koalas will now be at the mercy of landholders who would be within their right to cut down as much koala habitat as they like, just to make a few extra dollars. I will be looking into the details of this policy in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you have my assurance that if and when any legislation that threatens koala habitat passes through to the Upper House, I will not support it. The koalas and our forests deserve better than a government prioritising profit over wildlife.

22.01.2022 There's just over a week until submissions close on December 4, 2020. Here’s a guide to help you fill out the public survey for the Inquiry into the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC). ...Continue reading

21.01.2022 A fantastic article by Professor Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science at the University of Sydney, who recently published a landmark scientific paper showing that horses have the capability to feel as much pain from whipping as humans. This article tells you everything you need to know about Professor McGreevy's latest study - and everything you need to know about horse whipping, really. Yet despite the evidence and public opinion stacking ...up against the use of the whip, the industry is hesitant to change. 75% of Australians think horses should not be hit with a whip in the normal course of a race, yet as recently as September CEO of Racing NSW Peter V'Landys said "we've got to educate the public the whip doesn't hurt". The public have made up their mind. The science is clear. The whip needs to be banned. That's why I'm introducing a bill to NSW Parliament to: * ban the use of the whip, spurs and tongue ties *criminalise sending ex-racehorses to knackeries * put in place a birth-to-death racehorse registration and rehoming scheme I will fight hard to get my bill through Parliament, and you can help: please take the time today to email your MP and demand an end to this cruel industry: https://animal-justice-party.good.do/endhorseracing/ https://theconversation.com/10-reasons-to-stop-whipping-rac

21.01.2022 Exclusion fencing is tall, strong, and deadly - used to intentionally kill animals like kangaroos. Trapped in a confined area or hanging upside down by their feet, animals caught in exclusion fences or funnelled into contained areas suffer a long, agonising death of exposure, dehydration, starvation, stress, and predation. It gets worse.... In official documents, the NSW Government actively encourages landowners to trap, starve, and kill contained kangaroos. The NSW Government also funds the roll out of exclusion fencing, and there's no published data on how much funding has been given out, let alone how many animals are killed because of it. Read more about exclusion fencing in our new blog (warning: graphic images): https://markpearson.org.au/exclusion-fencing-explained-how/

20.01.2022 There are plagues of kangaroos out there and they need to be killed. Show me. Show me where these "plagues" of kangaroos exist. I hereby invite any person who says kangaroos need to be killed due to overpopulation, to take me to where these kangaroos exist in uncountable numbers. And I don't mean at dusk or dawn by the only dam or billabong in a hundred-kilometre radius. I recently shared an infographic about kangaroos and their adaptations to the Australian environment. Si...Continue reading

20.01.2022 This Mother's Day we would like to honour mothers of all species - from the doe with a joey in her pouch, to the sow trapped in a farrowing crate with her piglets. Today we honour devotion, compassion, kindness, care, power, and strength that every individual who has stepped into a mothering role shows every single day, including: biological mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers.... LGBTQI parents, adoptive and foster parents, grandparent-led families, and all blended families. those who have dedicated their lives to rescuing, raising, and caring for animals - often becoming interspecies adoptive parents to the tiniest, most vulnerable animal orphans who would not survive without them. Family is about love, not blood. And Mother's Day is a chance for us to acknowledge the incredible contributions those in all mothering roles make to their families and communities. Today, we honour you, and we thank you. We would also like to acknowledge the pain caused to all individuals, families and (particularly marginalised) communities by lost or wounded mother relationships. To: Mothers who have lost children Those who have lost mothers Mothers with strained child relationships Those with strained mother relationships Those yearning to be mothers Those who have miscarried Families separated by illness, addiction, or incarceration We see you, we hear you, and we know how difficult this day can be. Today, we think of you, and we honour your struggle.

19.01.2022 Sign here to demand an Independent Office of Animal Protection: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ioap Earlier this year, I was made aware of a horrific incident that occurred at a Central Coast animal shelter in May. A female Staffordshire Terrier, recovering from a caesarian section, pulled out her stitches and died of blood loss and shock, before suffocating several of her pups to death after she rolled onto them. The mother dog was not wearing an Elizabethan collar... (cone) at the time to prevent her from tearing out her stitches, and her puppies had been placed in the same cage as her despite the risk of her suffocating the puppies in a deep, post-operative sleep. I questioned the government about this incident and recently received their reply. I asked 1) if any complaints had been received about this facility; 2) what exactly happened to this dog and her puppies and how; 3) if the RSPCA investigated and found that negligence was a contributing factor to the incident. The government confirmed at least one complaint was received against the facility in July, but did not comment on specifics of the incident, instead directing questions to Council and the RSPCA. Both Council and the RSPCA did not respond to requests for comment by the journalist who wrote the below article. Time and time again, we see that animals in NSW are not properly protected under our state laws and animal protection systems. This needs to end. We can't leave the investigating of crimes and enforcement of laws to under-resourced charities. An Independent Office of Animal Protection would ensure transparency by establishing a fully resourced body with the power to thoroughly investigate animal cruelty complaints, enforce our animal protection laws, and prosecute those who harm animals. Sign here to demand an Independent Office of Animal Protection: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ioap https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au//7464952f2803ba00ec06c56

19.01.2022 It was absolutely incredible to visit Dingo Den Animal Rescue recently and get up and close and personal with these gorgeous, curious creatures. In the photos you can see Ochre giving my face a cautious sniff, Bambam yawning as I conduct a body condition check, and Rusty leading me on a walk. The best way I can describe the unique behaviour of dingoes is somewhere between that of a dog and a cat: though they look like dogs and clearly love their walkies, they have the ke...en, watchful gaze of cats, along with cat-like agility. Did you know dingoes can climb trees, and jump up to two metres in the air? In the case of domesticated dingoes like these, they also have very feline boundaries when it comes to human interaction a very curious but wary interest, followed by clear signs of friendliness once trust is established. The dingo has evolved to be a keystone species in Australia, a naturalised predator integral to maintaining the health of many Australian ecosystems. Sadly, despite the fact they have occupied Australia since the last ice age 18,000 years ago, the dingo is the only Australian mammal not protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. Though dingoes are not dogs, and are even classed as a unique species (Canis dingo) not descended from dogs or wolves, they are considered wild dogs and legally regarded as a pest in NSW. This lack of protection under the law means dingoes are victim to government-funded baiting, trapping, wild dog fencing, and hunting bounties. Most horrific of all, dingoes are routinely killed with the use of 1080 baiting, which causes a slow, painful death so cruel that the poison is banned in most developed countries. Because of these threats and interbreeding with domestic dogs, it’s no surprise dingo numbers have declined dramatically. Seen as a threat to livestock and misunderstood as aggressive and vicious, it’s horrific to think these extraordinary, unique animals are persecuted in their own natural habitat, even despite the species being listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Thank you to Josh, Kat, and everyone at Dingo Den for having me at your wonderful sanctuary and teaching me all about this incredible animal. I am looking forward to continuing to work with you in the future to ensure better protection and outcomes for dingoes in NSW. For more information and to add your voice to Dingo Den’s petition to protect dingoes, click here https://www.dingoden.net/threats.html

16.01.2022 No animal deserves to be killed just because they're considered a financial burden - especially when they were only bred to make money in the first place. And yet the killing of foals and horses for exactly that reason is so common the racing industry even has a name for these doomed animals - "wastage". It's cruel and unnecessary, and we need to make it illegal.... That's why I have introduced the Racehorse Legislation Amendment (Welfare and Registration) Bill to NSW Parliament that, if passed, will: * establish birth-to-death tracking * ban the slaughter of ex-racehorses * ensure mandatory re-homing The bill would also BAN whips along with spurs and tongue-ties. If you support my bill, please sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org//support-our-bill-to-protect-rac To learn more about "wastage" in Australia, read this: https://horseracingkills.com/campaigns/wastage/

15.01.2022 Mothers and fathers beheaded. Orphaned joeys bludgeoned to death. Terrified, wounded family members left to flee and die a slow, painful death. This unacceptable cruelty is the reality for thousands of kangaroos killed every night in Australia. Worse still, it's government-sanctioned - and Australia's best kept secret. That's why it's fantastic to see the American political news website... Salon cover the story, and interviewing the AJP's own Greg Keightley. With close to a million "likes" on Facebook and a million more followers on Twitter , Salon is exceptionally well-read. Here's the full story: https://www.salon.com//kangaroos-an-australian-icon-are-b/ After the success of the first World Kangaroo Day, we're seeing more and more ripples of interest in what Australia is doing to our kangaroos. Soon, it will be a tidal wave. If you haven't already, please sign my petition to end the kangaroo meat trade here: https://markpearson.org.au/banwildlifetrade/

14.01.2022 In 2000, hundreds of brumbies were shot brutally from helicopters in an aerial cull within Guy Fawkes River National Park. The footage that emerged from the bloodbath was harrowing - dead and dying horses, and foals hanging halfway out of their terrified mothers, in labour while they ran for their lives. This was the NSW Government's best form of "population control" at the time, and 20 years later we're still fighting for a kinder option. A couple of weeks ago, fellow AJP me...mber Emma Hurst - Animal Justice Party MP passed a motion in the Upper House, calling on the government to pursue a trial of immunocontraceptives on wild horses in NSW. I spoke in support of the motion, pointing out just how far the science has come and where we could already be if we'd only started with the immunocontraceptives earlier, instead of investing millions of dollars in heinous, cruel measures of "population control", year after year.

14.01.2022 This Friday, Channel 9 will air Greyhound Racing New South Wales's TAB Million Dollar Chase immediately following the NRL. Today, I penned an urgent open letter to Hugh Marks, CEO and Director of Nine, urging him to pull the plug on the Million Dollar Chase. Australians love sport. Australians do not love animal cruelty - and that's what greyhound racing is. It is absurd this vile industry, once banned in NSW and condemned by a Special Commission of Inquiry, is now being allo...Continue reading

14.01.2022 A horrific case but fantastic to see my colleague and longtime kangaroo carer Greg Keightley given a platform to talk about just how persecuted kangaroos are in NSW. 'The Animal Justice Party are calling on the state government to take action against such cruel practices. Kangaroos need protection. Without a change in government attitudes or practices, appalling cruelty like this will likely continue,’’ says Greg Keightley, kangaroo advisor to Animal Justice Party MP Mark P...earson. Because kangaroos are treated as pests, horrific incidents like this are not uncommon in NSW. We hear similar stories on a weekly if not daily basis,’’ says Keightley, who has been a kangaroo carer for 15 years. Some of these same kangaroos will have been saved by wildlife carers from the summer bushfires. Now they are being callously killed and dismembered." '

11.01.2022 "From individual life-saving actions to the collective power of the Facebook group that helped reunite lost animals with their guardians, the public's reaction to this horrific natural disaster has shown how society's perception of animals is changing," Mr Pearson said. "No longer are animals seen simply as 'stock' or a 'loss' during environmental damage - people are increasingly and rightfully recognising animals as unique individuals who can feel fear and pain, and are going to great lengths to prevent their suffering."

09.01.2022 It’s no secret NSW’s native animals are suffering, but you don’t often get to meet the victims, like Kindle (who you can see nibbling on my beard in the first photo!). Kindle was orphaned in last summer’s south coast fires and his eyes were affected by the smoke and embers. Local wildlife services on the south coast were of course inundated with patients after the fires, which is why Sydney Wildlife stepped in, taking many animals into care. Kindle is now in the care of Toni ...Continue reading

08.01.2022 Great article about the proposal for a new nature reserve on the mid-north coast, which I'll be launching this weekend. I’m thrilled to be part of this momentous event and lend my voice to such a vital project, Mr Pearson said. Friends of Kalang Headwaters have really got it right we need to protect forests for all the animals who call them home.... Koalas in particular need all the friends they can get right now, particularly on the mid-north coast where a third were killed by the Black Summer bushfires.

07.01.2022 It's absurd to cut the pay of essential workers while simultaneously propping up the unnecessary and cruel industries of greyhound and horse racing, as well as the kangaroo meat trade. It's equally as ridiculous to cut the pay of essential workers under the pretence of saving the state money when the money everyday people earn goes straight back into the economy. With the release of the 2020 NSW Budget, public sector wage increases have been cut from 2.5% to 1.5%. The NSW Lib...eral government should NOT be cutting the wages of public sector workers. Public sector workers, like firefighters, nurses, and teachers, make up a significant portion of the state’s essential services. Cutting the pay of essential service workers now, while the cost of living continues to rise and economic uncertainty reigns, is a slap in the face to these tireless workers who got us through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, and continue to put others first. Instead of targeting essential workers, the government should be stripping funding from industries which are entirely unessential and cause immeasurable suffering to animals, like the corrupt and deplorable greyhound and horse racing industries, and the horrific kangaroo meat trade. Earlier this year, the NSW Government sought to freeze the annual increase at 2.5 per cent. At the time I met with Unions NSW and gave them my assurance I would vote against the wage freeze in Parliament. In May, I appeared on 7 News Sydney vowing to vote against the wage freeze. Most recently, I met with the Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) to assure them my position on the matter has not changed. Now that the NSW Budget has been announced, I remain steadfast - I oppose pay cuts and pay freezes to public sector workers.

06.01.2022 A little while ago, Dingo Den Animal Rescue invited me for a visit to their sanctuary to meet some dingoes and learn more about them and the critical threats they face. Recently, Dingo Den returned the visit, bringing dingoes to Parliament House after I helped organise a meeting between the sanctuary and the Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean. A huge thank you to Josh, Kat, and Brianna for bringing Bambam, Khya, and Snow to Parliament House to meet Matt Kean and ...I. I am sure the Minister learnt a lot from the visit and I look forward to future discussions that could lead to better protection and outcomes for dingoes in NSW. For more information and to add your voice to Dingo Den’s petition to protect dingoes, click here https://www.dingoden.net/threats.html

05.01.2022 Animal cruelty laws in NSW do not protect all animals. The NSW DPI is expected to promote hunting, fishing and animal agriculture, yet protect animals at the same time. The conflict of interest is clear. ... This is why we urgently need an overhaul of our state’s animal cruelty laws, and at the very least, an Independent Office of Animal Protection. If you agree, please sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/ioap

04.01.2022 Again and again, the NSW Government keeps failing koalas. Today, with the expert guidance of Save Sydney's Koalas, I submitted my personal objection to the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan. You can read my full submission below, but you don't need to write your own to object the Plan. I urge you to simply sign Save Sydney's Koala's letter of objection here: https://actionnetwork.org//objection-to-draft-cumberland-p...Continue reading

03.01.2022 Australia's treatment of wildlife is an international disgrace - particularly when it comes to kangaroos. The kangaroo is the victim of the largest slaughter of land-based mammals on the planet, yet the industry is still a well-kept secret, even in our own backyard. Every night, thousands of wild kangaroos are shot brutally and left to bleed out while their joeys are bludgeoned to death. It’s time we looked at one of the biggest contributing consumer factors to this mass com...mercial slaughter: the demand for kangaroo leather, or k-leather. Companies like Nike and adidas use k-leather to make sporting goods like shoes, and it’s time they stepped up and looked at the reality of the products they’re selling. The killing will continue until enough consumers demand change and businesses like Nike and Adidas start making kinder choices. That’s why it’s so important we spread the word, and why I keep campaigning on this issue. On this front, I’d like to thank cycling superstar Dotsie Bausch and the Center for a Humane Economy for bringing awareness to Australia’s secret kangaroo killing to customers in the USA, where companies that use k-leather, like Nike and Adidas, have such a potential to create positive change for kangaroos in Australia. The #kangaroosarenotshoes campaign has my whole-hearted support. In the meantime, despite the extreme habitat destruction and loss of life from the NSW bushfires, the killing of kangaroos will continue. That's why I’m now calling for an immediate moratorium on all kangaroo slaughter in NSW until the full impacts of the fires on kangaroos are understood. Please support my call for a moratorium on kangaroo killing in NSW here: https://nsw.animaljusticeparty.org/cam/kangaroo-protection/