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On 1 July 2024, the Federal Government…
Live sheep export

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  4. Australia’s National Statement on…

RSPCA Australia commends the Federal Government and agricultural ministers for the development of a National Statement on Animal Welfare — a step in the right direction toward improving practices and harmonising animal welfare standards across Australia.

RSPCA Australia CEO, Richard Mussell, said the national statement demonstrates a much-needed national commitment to improve animal welfare, and trusts it will support meaningful progress in Australia’s lagging animal welfare practices and standards.

“The National Statement on Animal Welfare provides an important foundation for governments, industry and animal welfare organisations to collaborate and to generate tangible improvements in the lives of hundreds of millions of animals both in Australia and globally,” Mr Mussell said.

“As a science and evidence-based animal welfare organisation, the RSPCA is pleased to see the reference to contemporary animal welfare science and the need for further research in the statement.

“Animal welfare science has long recognised animal sentience, the ability for animals to experience emotions including pain, suffering and pleasure, and the RSPCA hope this understanding will form the basis of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy.”

It has been over a decade since the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy lapsed. The Australian Government allocated $5 million over four years in the 2023-24 Federal Budget to renewing the Animal Welfare Strategy by 2027.

The RSPCA continues to advocate for increased funding for the Animal Welfare Strategy to enable swift implementation of the strategy with meaningful outcomes for Australia’s animals. We hope the new strategy will be an opportunity for robust discussion and to bring together some of the most informed subject matter experts in the country to set a pathway for continual improvement in animal welfare.

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