Substance, not slogans, are needed

by Tim Wilson, August 2, 2011

Allegations by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council  that orangutans are being mistreated during a recent visit to Melbourne Zoo couldn’t come at a more heated time in the debate about the sustainability of the crop and the actions of zoos against it.

The Federal Parliament recently passed an absurd Bill on the back of political deals by the Opposition and Independents to treat the oil seed differently from other oils. In enacted the Bill will almost certainly put Australia in breach of international trade rules. The New Zealand government isn’t happy. And it’s just dumb policy which will neither achieve the objective desired and sets an appalling precedent for food labelling to be used as a political football.

Putting the policy aside the reaction of Melbourne Zoo’s spokesperson to animal mistreatment, Rachel Lowry, showed a glass jaw on the subject retaliating that the concerns were not raised with the Zoo. She made similar comments when SD produced a report highlighting that a ‘fact’ sheet on their website wasn’t based in facts at all. Lowry appears more convinced of her own moral superiority than the circumstances of the orangutan she keeps captive.

Instead of sloganeering she should have addressed the real issue which is what circumstances animals living in captivity face. Certainly being left in the cold is not acceptable. Especially for a Zoo. Even more so when they are happy to lecture others. Let’s hope it isn’t the case.

Whether the Zoo is actually mistreating orangutans remains up in the air. It’s a classic case of he said, she said. But considering the gravity of attacks against the Malaysian palm oil industry Victoria Zoo has an obligation to at least investigate whether the orangutan they have in captivity are happy and healthy. Not just sloganeering, as they have done to date.

While that happens the government should turn its focus back to the issue of the absurd law passed by the Senate and ensure that when Parliament resumes in two weeks time it sits on the books for the sake of developing world poor.

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