Animal welfare Act failure: Nothing to show after six years and four ministers

Farmers, hunters and fishers are waiting in frustration, as the Andrews government stalls on delivering new animal welfare legislation.

The promise of a new Victorian animal welfare act recognising animal sentience has major consequences for intensive farming operations.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is yet to deliver on his 2017 promise to deliver a new animal welfare act.

The new act has major consequences for farmers, hunters and even anglers and commercial fishers, given the government’s promise to introduce mandatory standards of care that recognise animal sentience – the capacity to feel fear, stress and other emotions – in the new act.

But almost six years on and four agriculture ministers later, all the government has to show for its efforts is a directions paper released in 2020 and a plan last year.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said it was “disappointing and frustrating that the Victorian government has taken their commitment for the new Animal Care and Protection Act to two elections without delivery”.

“During that period we, along with other members of the community, have been involved in a consultation process to shape it, and look forward to seeing an exposure draft as soon as possible,” she said.

“I do believe the fact we’ve had a number of agriculture ministers in the almost six years since the commitment for a new act was made is a contributing factor for the delay.”

Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president Danyel Cucinotta said: “Delays are frustrating, but not as frustrating as the circumstances that the legislation may bring.”

Opposition agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said the six-year delay was “typical of the Andrews government talking the big game, but failing to deliver”.

Ms Purcell said Victoria’s current animal protection laws were “broken and not fit for purpose.

“Our new laws must not just focus on punishing cruelty, they must act to prevent cruelty happening in the first place by acknowledging sentience and a duty of care”.

“We want to see other changes – like codes of practice for farmed animals being made mandatory, instead of voluntary,” she said.

The VFF has long opposed mandatory codes and in its submissions raised concern as to who defined standards of care under the new act.

Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said: “This is historic legislation and we are consulting carefully and widely to ensure we get the laws right.”

“All Victorians can have their say when the exposure draft is released later this year. This feedback will inform the final Bill we introduce to parliament for consideration.”

The 2023-24 Victorian budget committed $2.3 million to the development of the new animal care and protection laws.