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

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

Support us

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

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About
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
adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet

The RSPCA has high expectations of the new Technical Advisory Committee and its members, which have been appointed to review the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL).

“The review of the ASEL has been a long time coming and, after no advancements in on-board standards for more than a decade, we enter into this process with strong expectations of rapid and significant animal welfare improvements,” said RSPCA Australia CEO Heather Neil.

“The live export industry has fought hard in recent years to prevent improvements to onboard standards due to perceived impacts on profits,

“However, the RSPCA expects the new standards will overcome the protests of the live export industry, and make the desperately–needed improvements to conditions for animals, based on science and community expectations,” she said.

Ms Neil also said the RSPCA expects rapid improvements from the new standards in areas such as

  • the provision of extra space and bedding. Current stocking densities force animals to lie down on top of each other and jostle for access for feed and water,
  • prevention of the transportation of animals to the Middle East mid-year, during which temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees, and
  • the requirement of competent and independent vets to be on-board to oversee the health and welfare of animals

“In addition, the current measure of welfare outcomes through mortality is crude and insufficient, and cannot be seen as an accurate measure of the animals’ suffering,” she said.

In February 2013, photographs revealed the cramped and unacceptable conditions allowed under the current standards and endured by cattle and sheep on-board livestock vessels.

“Australia’s international animal welfare reputation continues to suffer with disaster after disaster in live animal exports,” said Ms Neil.

“While valuing the opportunity to contribute to improving standards, the RSPCA will continue to advocate to government for the replacement of the live export trade with a meat only trade,

“This is better for animals and for farmers,” she said.    

ASEL covers the selection of animals for export on farm and on board the ship to the point of disembarkation in the importing country.

In 2011, the government-commissioned independent review of Australia’s livestock export trade (the Farmer Review) found that ‘a full review of the ASEL was a priority’.

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.