HUMANE SCIENCE NEWS Volume 18 Number 2 2005 The Australian Animal Welfare Strategy Inside this issue Geoff Dandie, Director of ANZCCART The Australian Welfare Strategy 1 here has long been a need for a with industry and representatives more uniform approach to animal of the community. Unlike the Code Twelfare across Australia, as unlike of Practice and various Institutional Changes in the Board of our New Zealand based colleagues, policies that most readers of ANZCART ANZCCART 3 we have traditionally regarded animal News are used to working under, the welfare as the political domain of State AAWS is aimed at the entire Australian Report on the ANZCCART and Territory Governments. The notable community, including people in charge Conference 2005 4 exception to this principle of course of animals, animal users, veterinarians, being the use of animals in research livestock producers, processors and Changes to the Use of and teaching, where the Australian transporters, the governing bodies Animals for Teaching Code of Practice for the Care and Use that control sports and recreational Scientifi c Concepts in of Animals for Scientifi c Purposes has organizations, educational facilities, Victorian Schools 8 been fully incorporated into the relevant consumers, government agencies, legislation in each State or Territory. It primary producers and harvesters as is only now, after over 100 years of well as researchers and teachers. News and Views 9 federation, that an increasing level of However, like the Code of Practice, its awareness and desire to maintain a preparation has involved consultation level of consistency in the approach to with and input from a large number of animal welfare issues across Australia stakeholder organizations so it may has lead to the recent release of a draft reasonably be expected that, like the National Animal Welfare Bill as well as Code of Practice, the AAWS should the formulation of the Australian Animal be to be readily accepted by the Welfare Strategy (AAWS). The AAWS community at at large. In releasing the has been prepared and released AAWS, Senator McGauran (Minister for under the auspices of the Department Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) said of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that like all Australians, the Government ANZCCART Conference and has been in the offi ng for a number believes in practical, effective and 2006 of years now, while the draft National humane animal welfare standards and Animal Welfare Bill has been put that was why a comprehensive strategy The ANZCCART conference forward for public comment by one had been put together that covers all is planned to take place in of the minor parties in the Australian animals. Canberra in Spring 2006, Senate*. timed to coincide with the For the purposes of implementing Floriade festival. The AAWS has been developed with the AAWS, the various groups and a view to providing the national and organizations that are involved have international communities with an been divided into six separate sectors. We are planning to hold the appreciation for the animal welfare These are: conference back to back with arrangements that are in place ANSLAS/AATA. in Australia and to outline future Animals used for the production of directions for improvements in the food and fi bre Information will be added welfare of animals in this country. It Animals used in Research & to our website as details are has been developed over a number Teaching fi nalised. of years, jointly by the national, state Aquatic Animals and territory governments along Companion animals The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching Animals used for work, recreation, entertainment improvements in standards and the health and welfare and display of any such animals used for scientifi c purposes. Animals in the wild – both native and introduced The AAWS acknowledges that Australia enjoys a species. favourable animal health status, so a high priority is placed on the control of endemic diseases and Australia has deservedly had a good reputation in emergency animal disease preparedness and the area of animal welfare in general for many years response, including the biosecurity controls that are and certainly has long been seen as a leader in in place to protect animal welfare, animal health and ensuring the maintenance of the welfare standards public health and so this is one area where issues for animals used in research and teaching. The such as feral animal populations are considered. latter being largely due to the universal acceptance Importantly, it establishes a framework for sustainable of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care animal welfare outcomes based on scientifi c evidence, and Use of Animals for Scientifi c Purposes, which with a focus on achieving a balance between education is now in its seventh edition. However in recent and regulation and it will also strive for greater years, international attention has been focussed harmony and consistency across jurisdictions. The more on problems that have arisen during the AAWS recognises that animal welfare is a complex export of livestock or with mulesing of sheep to issue with both science and ethics playing an essential prevent fl y strike, than on the more positive aspects part in any issue under consideration. It is therefore of Australia’s animal welfare standards. While this stated that science should provide the body of has obviously resulted in some negative publicity evidence to be used for moral and ethical judgements for our rural and export industries, it also serves about the welfare of any animal species. At the same to raise the profi le of the animal welfare debate in time, decisions about animal welfare are infl uenced by all areas. Such an increase in public awareness cultural, social, economic and occupational health and obviously helps keep people working in unrelated safety considerations. Equally, industrially important sectors such as research and teaching on their considerations such as the standards of stockmanship, toes, and that may be seen as a positive outcome. the skills and responsibilities of animal carers and their However, it can unfairly impact on the public role in good husbandry and the delivery of acceptable perception of all people who work with animals, animal welfare outcomes are clearly spelled out. again including those involved in research and Bearing in mind that the AAWS has at least in part teaching and potentially diminish the value of their been developed in response to problems in the rural work in today’s society. and export sectors and also the substantial proportion of Australia’s controlled animal population that falls Accordingly, in an effort to redress any perception within that sector, it is not surprising that much of that our international standing may have been its content relates to animals in these categories. It damaged, particularly among our trading partner does build upon historic and existing animal welfare nations, the Australian Government has put arrangements in Australia and perhaps by way together the AAWS. The AAWS has been designed of illustrating the stronger affi liation between the to be the overarching policy document that will be AAWS and the rural sector, specifi cally recognizes seen to set the tone for all issues relating to animal the intimate connection that exists between animal welfare. It will be used internationally, to exemplify welfare and animal health and production. Australian commitment to animal welfare in every The AAWS clearly recognises that animals play an aspect of our lives including the use of animals in important role in Australian daily life due to: research and teaching. Importantly, the AAWS will not replace or in any way diminish the scope of the An increasing recognition in the community that Australian Code of Practice for the care and Use animals have an intrinsic value; of Animals for Scientifi c purposes, but rather, will The important role of animals as a source of food, help to draw together animal welfare legislation fi bre and other products; from all states and territories along with the various The important role of animals in Australia’s history guidelines, codes of practice and documents and development as a nation; outlining minimum standards that relate to holding, Australia’s diverse and unique native animals, housing and transporting animals that apply in many of which fi gure prominently in indigenous the agricultural, domestic, sporting and research culture; settings and importantly it will strive to ensure that The ongoing tourism importance of Australia’s all such guidelines will be based on sound scientifi c diverse and unique native animals; evidence. So it would be hoped that any research The strong cultural and sporting signifi cance of project based on the use of agricultural or native animals, including the use of animals as a subject / wildlife species, might in fact be enhanced by across the arts and as icons for our sporting ANZCCART News Vol 18 Number 2 2005 2 teams; (Footnotes) The ongoing economic importance of the animal * More details on both the draft Bill and the public comment procedure industries to Australia; and may be obtained from ANZCCART. ANZCCART will be reviewing this The dependence of many Australians on animals for draft bill with particular emphasis on portions that relate to the use of animals in research and teaching and submitting a detailed response to companionship. the Senate. All ANZCCART member organizations have been invited It also emphasizes that animal industries (including to submit comments to our offi ce for collation into this response. If you aquaculture and commercial fi shing) producing food are interested in commenting either directly or via ANZCCART, please and fi bre and other products, together with the tourism contact us at [email protected] value of Australia’s diverse and unique native animals, will continue to play key roles in maintaining the nation’s economic well-being in the 21st century.