AS THE Federal election countdown continues, the Labor Party today launched a six-point plan covering animal welfare, pledging to “reinstate national leadership in animal welfare matters and dedicating resources to a new national framework.”
Labor agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon
“Our six-point plan will ensure respecting animal welfare standards is a top priority for every industry that works with animals,” agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said.
“Protecting animal welfare and boosting sustainable profitability in the agriculture sector aren’t competing aims – they support one another,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“The growing demand for high quality and ethically produced food means Australia’s producers must embrace the highest animal welfare standards to remain internationally competitive.”
“We’ve already seen how turning a blind eye to systemic cruelty damages our reputation, fuels community concern and allows a small few to make high profits at the expense of the majority doing the right thing,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
As part of its six-point plan, he said a Shorten Labor Government would:
Establish an independent Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports
Labor would provide $1 million a year to establish the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare as an independent statutory position operating within the Department of Agriculture,” Mr Ftizgibbon said. The Inspector-General will be responsible for advising on the protection of animals in all Commonwealth-regulated activities and would report directly to the Minister of the day on issues concerning live export, animal welfare standards and guidelines. The Inspector-General would also work with the states and territories to establish an independent Office of Animal Welfare to oversee animal protection and welfare activities nationally.
Re-establish state and territory cooperation on animal welfare matters
Under the previous Labor Government, the Commonwealth, States and Territories cooperated on animal welfare and primary industry issues through a range of official forums which had since been abolished by the Coalition Government, Mr Fitzgibbon said. Labor would re-establish state and territory cooperation to ensure animal welfare matters receive the consistent national approach they deserve.
Renew the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
Labor committed to working with state and territory governments, industry and animal welfare groups to update and renew the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy for the coming decade. “We will draw on the best available research and evidence to develop a strategy that confirms Australia as a leader in our region for the care and protection of animals,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
Review the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS)
A Shorten Labor Government would conduct a top-to-bottom review of the ESCAS system to ensure it was working as effectively and efficiently as possible, he said.
Provide more transparency and accountability
Under Labor, the Minister for Agriculture would provide quarterly reports to the Parliament on new and emerging live export markets; the number of head exported; any allegations of breaches of animal welfare standards and investigations undertaken; and any sanctions or other action taken for breaches of Australia’s animal welfare standards.
Labor re-affirmed its pledge to immediately ban the northern summer live sheep trade and propose a plan which would phase out the live sheep trade within five years.
“The only way to ensure scientific animal welfare standards are met, community expectations on animal welfare are met and for certainty to be provided for our farmers is to ban the northern summer live sheep export trade and to implement an orderly phase out over a five year period,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“In delivering our plan to reinstate national federal leadership and to better protect animal welfare, Labor will work with state and territory governments and stakeholders across primary industry to ensure these policies protect our international reputation and build competitiveness in export markets,” he said.
“Raising the bar on animal welfare will ensure our agricultural producers can continue to expand into the growing high value premium consumer markets in Asia and beyond, building on Australia’s reputation as a provider of clean, green, safe, high quality and ethically-produced products.”
Source: Australian Labor Party