Animal welfare priorities

Companion animals

Compulsory de-sexing of cats and dogs.
Permanent identification means for dogs and cats.
Banning the use of electronic and pronged dog training collars.
Controlling the supply of domestic cats and dogs to registered animal businesses and shelters.
Horses to be included in the Domestic Animals Act and permanently identified and registered.
Banning the permanent chaining of dogs and prescribing a minimum period of daily exercise.
Regulate trainer and training programs for dogs.

Farm animals

Accurate labelling of animal products to reflect their source
(i.e battery eggs, barn laid eggs etc.)
Federal Government to phase out over intensive (factory) farming
practices, in particular pig production systems and the battery
cage egg production system. Farming practices to comply with the
RSPCA five freedoms.
Banning the export of live animals for slaughter.
The bobby calf trade to be regulated by a more comprehensive
code of practice.
Identification system for farm animals.

Wildlife

Confining the sale of wild birds and native animals as pets to only those animals
that have been bred in captivity for many generations (i.e. canaries).
To ensure the well being of native and feral animal populations, by developing
Responsibility for the welfare of wildlife and pest animals to be allocated to the
Minister for Agriculture.

Horse racing

Hunting

Legislation

Encourage the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the State Government to adopt a new welfare
oriented Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and regulatory Codes of Practice to allow for prevention of
cruelty. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 at present only enables the RSPCA to respond once
acts of cruelty have occurred. It does not permit intervention before animal suffering occurs.
Include provision of the legal concept of the duty of care.