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HomeTake Action2022 Australian government priorities

Australians care about animals yet our national approach to animal welfare is ranked as one of worst in the world.1 This federal election the RSPCA is calling on the Australian Government and Members of Parliament to proactively improve animal welfare and directly respond to community demand by leading two key initiatives.

Sheep

1. Legislate an end date for Australia’s live sheep exports in this Parliamentary term

Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of live animals2 despite more than two thirds of Australians wanting an end to the trade.3 Our nation is also the fifth largest exporter of live sheep4 despite contemporary animal welfare science proving sheep suffer extremely poor welfare when shipped to the Northern Hemisphere. A more humane alternative is to phase-out live sheep exports in favour of a chilled and frozen-meat only trade. This will result in better welfare for sheep and more jobs for Australians.5

Hens

2. Provide national leadership by establishing an independent statutory agency for animal welfare

National leadership is crucial for continuous improvement, coordination and consistency across states and territories. Australia’s national standing for animal welfare is poor because of inconsistent laws, competing roles within government and complex processes around animal welfare standards. Achieving strong animal welfare standards within a federated system of government needs national leadership and coordination. A federal independent statutory agency for animal welfare is vital to enable consistency, expertise and impartiality, and improve the welfare of production animals in Australia.

GET INVOLVED

Contact candidates in your electorate to share why animals are important to you and outline what actions you want your federal members and senators to take if they are elected to Government.

  1. World Animal Protection, 2021. Animal Protection Index 2021.
  2. Datawheel, 2020. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).
  3. Digital Edge independent omnibus poll, 17 January 2022.
  4. Datawheel, 2020. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC). Sheep, live (HS: 010410) Product Trade, Exporters and Importers | OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity
  5. Such as employment related to Australia’s meat sector as outlined by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (2021). Meat sector overview.

Authorised by Richard Mussell, RSPCA Australia, Canberra

Take Action

Live exporters have had chance after chance, and they’ve continually failed community expectations and disrespected our laws - bringing embarrassment upon the government and international shame upon our farmers. Enough is enough.

Please write to your MP now and urge them enforce our existing live export regulations. Your email will also be sent to the Hon David Littleproud MP, Minister for Agriculture.