The government proposes changes to animal welfare legislation, combining three acts into one umbrella animal welfare act.

Minimum care requirements, cruelty definitions, the penalty framework and enforcement powers will be updated.  

I am concerned that the proposal would delegate all animal protection decisions to the agriculture minister and give the minister power to change animal welfare provisions without Parliamentary oversight. The agriculture portfolio represents industry not animals and I share the Animal Justice Party’s alarm that changes could result in less oversight of backyard breeders and intensive farming facilities.  

Comments close 3 September > HERE.