As a new century dawned in 2000, Australian animal welfare groups held high hopes that with it would come the realisation that no ethical and civilised society could continue to support such cruelty on the basis of profit.

The test came when politicians met in August 2000 to vote on whether to ban battery cages. Despite overwhelming evidence to support a ban on battery cages, they instead voted to increase the space given to individual hens by the size of four matchboxes (100 square cm), and heralded this to the public as a great leap forward in animal welfare. The decision comes into effect on the 1st January 2008.

Read more at http://animalsaustralia.the-kindness...5DFGI&topic=28