Humane Society International (HSI) gives sincere thanks to the Australian Democrats for their exceptional service to environmental and animal protection during their thirty years in the federal Parliament.

It is with enormous regret that HSI farewells Democrat senators Lyn Allison, Andrew Bartlett, Natasha Stott Despoja and Andrew Murray on whom we have so often relied to advocate animal and environmental causes in Parliament.

HSI's conservation and animal protection campaigns have benefited greatly from work the Democrats have done to develop policy, instigate senate enquiries, scrutinise government decision making and expenditure, expose government failings and make crucial amendments to important legislation. HSI particularly commends the Australian Democrats for the 500 amendments they made to Australia's national environmental laws in 1999.

The animal welfare movement will be particularly bereft without Andrew Bartlett's voice in the Parliament.

HSI wishes all the Democrat senators well for the future.

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