Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

better than live export hero banner
Priority issue
On 1 July 2024, the Federal Government…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

take action live sheep export alternate
Media release: Live sheep export unfixable, unnecessary, unacceptable – and now, soon to be unlawful
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

RSPCA Approved Standards

AWS2025 Website Image 2000x2000 v2
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2025
Animal ethics and animal welfare…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
Subscribe now! Keep up to date with the latest animal welfare news
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Blog
  4. Why 2021 can be the year we free Aussie…
Blog

Why 2021 can be the year we free Aussie hens from battery cages

Generic Avatar
  • RSPCA Australia
  • Friday, 29 January 2021
Subscribe to our blog
Over 10 million layer hens – around one half of all layer hens in Australia – are still confined to battery cages. This outdated practice goes against both the science and the expectations of the community, and it must be brought to an end as soon as possible. 
 
For now, these tiny, cramped cages – in which hens only have the size of a sheet of A4 paper – are sadly all these hens know. For a hen to have a good life, she needs the freedom to move around, to stretch, flap her wings, perch and bathe in dust to keep her skin and feathers clean and healthy. She also needs to be able to lay her eggs in a nest. But she can’t do any of these things in a battery cage.  
 
But this year should be the year that finally changes. State and territory agriculture ministers have, for many years, been overseeing the drafting of new standards and guidelines for poultry – and that process is finally wrapping up in the first half of 2021.  
 
Where are we at? 
 
Here’s the story so far, from 2016 to the present... 
 
Of the overwhelming number of submissions received during the 2018 public consultation process – a record-breaking 167,000! – the vast majority agreed with a phase-out of battery cages. However,  the continued resistance  of the cage egg industry to change and the resulting stalemate meant state and territory governments agreed to appoint an independent panel of experts to oversee the finalisation of the standards and guidelines. That panel is now working hard to produce a final version of the standards in the coming months. 
 
Where to from here? 
 
Once the draft standards are released, we’ll need your help to support your state or territory government to take the right action, and implement a phase out.  For now, sign up to make sure you’re getting the latest news, and we’ll let you know when and how you can help.  
subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.