WoolProducers Australia
WoolProducers Australia today expressed their concern and disappointment as the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Julie Collins and her ALP colleagues have failed to engage with and acknowledge the work of livestock industries in the lead up to today’s policy announcement. Today’s announcement fails to acknowledge the high level of industry investment towards improving animal health and welfare by proposing a ban to live sheep exports and wasteful duplication through the establishment of the office of the independent Inspector-General for Animal Welfare . Today’s policy announcement is, disappointingly, little more than a regurgitation of the policies announced during the 2016 and 2019 election campaigns.
WoolProducers President Ed Storey said, “It’s disappointing that the Shadow Minister wouldn’t comment on Labor’s animal welfare policy at the Agriculture leaders debate at the National Press Club 3 weeks ago, only promising that industry would be happy. Today’s announcement has fallen well short of our expectations. It’s frustrating that the ALP has seemingly found the time to engage with the animal rights groups before today’s announcement, while failing to engage with industry”.
The proposed reporting functions of the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare to parliament is nothing more than a $1 million per year duplication of pre-existing industry and government reporting processes.
“It is alarming that the core reporting functions of the proposed Inspector-General are based on negative metrics, a clear indication of the underlying intent of this policy announcement. If the ALP took the time to engage with industry, they would appreciate the significant investment of grower levies and the work undertaken through industry-government partnerships to continually improve animal welfare. We’re disappointed Labor seems to have listened to a squeaky minority that refuse to believe livestock industries are invested in their animals in every way. We can only hope that if Labour is successful in the forthcoming election that their promised “industry consultation” makes an appearance” Mr Storey said.
Domestic animal welfare regulations are set by respective state and territory governments, not the federal government. While WoolProducers supports alignment of animal welfare standards where possible, the need exists to have animal welfare regulatory frameworks to support lifetime animal welfare outcomes in the context of respective jurisdictional climatic conditions and production systems. The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep were finalised in consultation with industry, government and animal welfare groups in 2016 and have supported the development of legislation and associated compliance and enforcement activities since that time.
“I’d love to see greater alignment between states and territories on a range of matters, however this policy announcement appears to show a complete lack of understanding of the challenges that come with our federated system of government. We have seen challenges with cross-border management of natural disasters, the provision of healthcare and education services and more recently in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. To think that spending $5 million over 4 years can magically alleviate these challenges for animal welfare is a pipedream” Mr Storey said.
WoolProducers Australia is always willing to speak with the government of the day to facilitate a better understanding of on-farm practices and the investment made into animal health and welfare.
