The Australian Alliance for Animals is calling for amendments to the Office of Animal Welfare Bill introduced in Parliament today, warning that ministerial control and weakened expert consultation requirements risk undermining the reform and setting the state back on animal welfare.
The Alliance said the Bill needed to be strengthened to enable the Minns Labor Government to deliver its key election commitment of establishing an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.
Under the proposed legislation, key functions of the office, including reviewing and advising on animal welfare matters, can only be exercised at the written request of the Minister for Agriculture.
Australian Alliance for Animals Policy Director, Dr Jed Goodfellow, said the Bill fails to match the Government’s promise of strengthening animal welfare and creating independent oversight.
“An independent office of animal welfare that is subject to the control and direction of the very Minister it is supposed to have independence from is nonsensical.”
“It defeats the entire purpose of the office and doesn’t pass the pub test.”
“An independent office must be able to examine animal welfare problems without first needing the Minister for Agriculture’s permission,” Dr Goodfellow said.
The Bill also removes the statutory requirement to consult the Animal Welfare Advisory Council, made up of independent experts in animal welfare and veterinary science, on regulations incorporating animal welfare guidelines.
“The Government says this reform will deliver independent advice, yet it removes an existing requirement to consult its expert animal welfare advisory council.”
“That weakens a safeguard
