Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Minister
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Plant health
    • Drought and rural support
    • Mouse infestation advice
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade Lowering biosecurity risks to Australia, and assisting industry to accelerate growth towards a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030.
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2023-24

    Budget 2023-24

    The 2023–24 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 9 May 2023.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Animal
  4. Animal welfare
  5. AAWS

Sidebar first - Animal

  • Animal welfare
    • Animal welfare in Australia
    • Animal welfare standards and guidelines
      • Guidelines for dogs and cats
      • Guidelines for Poultry
    • The Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG)
    • Australian Animal Welfare Strategy
    • Live animal export trade
      • Approved Supply Chain Improvements Program
      • Cattle and Sheep Export Destinations
      • Review of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL)
        • Air journey
        • Sea voyage
        • Technical Advisory Handbook
        • Technical Advisory Committee
    • Regional Animal Welfare Strategy for Asia, the Far East and Oceania
    • State and Territory government animal welfare links and legislation

A Renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS)

Animal welfare is primarily a responsibility of the states and territories. The Commonwealth’s role is limited to livestock exports and export registered meat processing facilities post offload.​

However, the Federal government takes a leadership role in the development of national animal welfare standards and guidelines that provide clarity and consistency for industry, consumers and trading partners.

The previous Australian Animal Welfare Strategy - which lapsed in 2014 - provided an overarching national framework to identify priorities, coordinate stakeholder action and improve consistency across all animal use sectors, with a range of consultative forums.

Renewing the Strategy

The Australian Government has committed $5 million over 4 years, to the renewal of an Australian Animal Welfare Strategy.

A renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy establishes Australia’s commitment to modern, sustainable, evidence and science-based welfare practice.

It will provide a national framework to bring key stakeholders together on animal welfare issues of national significance.

A renewed strategy will provide a vision for the welfare of all animals and promote harmonised national standards and guidelines development, with the intention to mature the national policy and regulatory system for animal welfare.

An inclusive stakeholder engagement approach will ensure a broad range of stakeholders are involved in and support the development of the renewed strategy.

Engagement will include state and territory governments, First Nations peoples, agricultural industries, animal welfare organisations and the Australian public.

Animal welfare is a priority for the community, the agriculture industry and the Australian Government.

Renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy reflects the community’s desire for joint leadership from all Australian governments on animal welfare.

Further information

The budget for this commitment was announced as part of the May 2023 budget. More information is available on our Budget Fact Sheet page.

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 24 May 2023

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.