Animal welfare: National standards stalled as states delay implementation

Only two states have implemented a set of nationally agreed to animal welfare standards – despite finalising them five years ago.

Only two states have implemented nationally agreed to animal welfare standards and guidelines for cattle and sheep.

Six of Australia’s eight states and territories have still not implemented national animal welfare standards for cattle and sheep agreed to five years ago.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines were finalised in 2016, with every state committing to introduce them, as a move toward more nationally consistent rules.

But to date, only two states have actually implemented them: South Australia, which mandated both the cattle and sheep standards in 2017; and NSW, which has introduced them as guidelines only.

And it appears it will be at least another year before any progress is made for most jurisdictions, according to responses to The Weekly Times’ queries.

RSPCA Australia senior policy adviser Jed Goodfellow said the group had written to state and territory officials over the years, only to be told each time their departments were still working through the standards.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to government priorities – how much do they care about animal welfare? Governments are good at saying they care, but their current inaction suggests otherwise,” Mr Goodfellow said.

“Dozens of organisations dedicated a lot of time and effort to developing the standards, and thousands of people took the time to make submissions, so it is actually quite disrespectful to everybody involved for state governments to shelve the standards and let them gather dust.”

The National Farmers’ Federation did not respond to The Weekly Times by deadline.

Animal Health Australia led development of the standards, following extensive public consultation; however, it is for each jurisdiction to implement them.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said Victoria intended to incorporate the standards in its new animal welfare act, with an exposure draft to be released next year.

WA Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the state first had to change its animal welfare legislation to allow the national standards to be regulated, and now aimed to have the regulations introduced by year’s end.

The Northern Territory aims to introduce them by next year, saying their adoption was part of a wider legislative review.

Tasmania also anticipated the standards would be “progressed in the next year”, while Queensland simply said the guidelines were “under Government consideration”.

Each government reiterated they were committed to developing national standards.

MORE

MP CALLS FOR NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE BODY

FARM PRACTICES AT RISK WITH NEW ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS

DRONES HELP REDUCE STRESS ON SHEEP