Role
The Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG) promotes the national consistency of farm animal welfare regulations across jurisdictions and oversees the development and review of standards and guidelines for farm animals. It resolves animal welfare policy and regulatory matters which have national and inter-jurisdictional scope and delivers on animal welfare priorities of national interest referred to it by the Agricultural Senior Officials’ Committee (AGSOC).
Membership is made up of representatives from each of the state and territory government departments responsible for animal welfare, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries in an observer capacity.
Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG) members:
- Maintaining the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines Development Framework.
- The coordination of reviews of Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals and conversion to Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.
- Delivery of animal welfare priorities of national interest as referred by AGSOC.
Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG) members:
| Name | Position | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Christine Mulhearn | Assistant Secretary, Innovation & Consumers Branch | Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, Commonwealth |
| Fiona Ferguson | A/Director Animal Welfare Program | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland |
| Kim Filmer | Chief Animal Welfare Officer | Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales |
| Angela Brierley | Acting Executive Director Animal Welfare Victoria | Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Victoria |
| Nathan Rhodes | Executive Director Animal Welfare and Biosecurity | Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia |
| Rae Burrows | General Manager Biosecurity Tasmania | Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania |
| Chris Rodwell | Director Animal Welfare Policy | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia |
| Rob Williams | Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Biosecurity and Animal Welfare | Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Northern Territory |
| Chris Mooney | Senior Director Domestic Animal Services | Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory |
| Kate Littin | Manager Animal Welfare Team | Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand |
Meetings
The AWTG meets regularly via online conference and is supported by a secretariat provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry.
Communiqués
Secretariat
Secretariat services are provided by the department’s Animal Welfare Section (Agricultural Policy Division).
Current work priorities
The AWTG identifies work priorities and set them out in an annual workplan that is endorsed by AGSOC.
Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Processing Facilities and Establishments
The AWTG, led by Queensland, is developing new Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Processing Establishments (the standards and guidelines).
An independent scientific literature review was commissioned by the AWTG to inform the development of the new standards and guidelines. The review, authored by Dr Leisha Hewitt and Dr Alison Small, evaluates published scientific literature from 2000-2021, and focusses on the welfare aspects of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, camelids, buffalo, rabbits, poultry and other fowl) handling and processing for human consumption in abattoirs. Read the independent scientific literature review [PDF 1.58 MB].
A Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) comprising key national stakeholder organisations has been convened. Read the Stakeholder Advisory Group Terms of Reference [DOCX 1.8 MB].
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Land Transport of Livestock - suitability for horses
The AWTG is currently reviewing the existing 2012 Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock for their suitability for horses. Queensland is leading the review on behalf of the AWTG.
Equine industry stakeholders, livestock transporters and other interested stakeholders were recently invited to have a say on proposed changes to the national standards for horse land transport via a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (CRIS).
The proposals in the CRIS were informed by previous consultation from February 2021. View a reference copy of the February 2021 consultation paper:
Land transport of horses – Consultation paper (PDF 178 KB)
Land transport of horses – Consultation paper (DOCX 42 KB)
Virtual Fencing Technology
AWTG is examining the use of virtual fencing technology - GPS-enabled neckband or collar devices worn by livestock producing mild electric pulses to deter animals from approaching or crossing a virtual fence boundary - in response to the referral from the Agriculture Senior Officials’ Committee (AGSOC). A sub-group is examining regulatory issues associated with virtual fencing technology.
Contacting the AWTG
Email: awtg@agriculture.gov.au
Post: AWTG c/- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia