I was really pleased to read that welfare standards are up for review and that the public has a say in this process.

Every minute of every day, chickens in cage egg systems suffer. These animals endure crippling confinement, cannibalism, an inability to stretch their wings and painful broken bones. As you can imagine, sick chickens can go uncared for, and can die.

I understand those who can revise current laws are required to consider what the scientists are telling us when in the process of drafting this code. If this had been done, the phase-out of cages would be inevitable. The public consultation draft states that hens ought to be able to express natural patterns of behaviour like stretching their wings and limbs, lying down and standing, but the new standards don't satisfy this requisite. Caged hens cannot practise normal behaviours necessary for well-being like rudimentary movement. The draft code's assertion that egg laying hens confined in cages have an acceptable quality of life is not based on scientific research. Caged poultry housing systems don't meet the behavioural needs of layer-hens, and should not be condoned.

It's my view that cages that confine hens should be made illegal.

And to Australians, confining hens to a cage is wrong, no matter whether they are battery cages or colony cages.

News that cage egg stakeholders have attended cloak-and-dagger meetings with Government staff throughout this code review is disturbing. To be honest, this has seriously eroded my faith in politicians.