The Animal Welfare Task Group - AWTG

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 and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries participates in an observer capacity.

The AWTG is responsible for:

• 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:

Meetings

The AWTG meets regularly via online conference and also conducts business out of session as required.

Communiqués

Secretariat

Secretariat services are provided by the Animal Welfare Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Current work priorities

The AWTG identifies work priorities and set them out in an annual workplan that is endorsed by AGSOC.

AWTG Annual Work Plan 2023

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 these 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 was consulted throughout 2022 and meetings for this stage of the project have concluded. 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).

View a copy of the CRIS:

Proposed changes are now being finalised taking into consideration feedback on the CRIS. When finalised, a Decision Regulation Impact Statement (DRIS) including the revised standards and guidelines will be published on this page.

The proposals in the CRIS were informed by previous consultation from February 2021. View a reference copy of the February 2021 consultation paper:

Virtual Fencing Technology

In response to the referral from the Agriculture Senior Officials’ Committee (AGSOC), 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. A subgroup is examining regulatory issues associated with virtual fencing technology.

In February 2022, the subgroup identified the need to conduct an independent scientific literature review on animal welfare considerations for virtual fencing for livestock. View a copy of the finalised literature review:

Virtual fencing technology and the legislation governing its use across jurisdictions continue to evolve. In recognition of this, the independent scientific literature review has an accompanying addendum which captures new, additional, and more detailed information on virtual fencing technology since the finalisation of the literature review. Information contained within the addendum does not form part of the literature review itself but will be considered later by the subgroup. View a copy of the addendum:

Contacting the AWTG

Email: awtg@aff.gov.au
Post: AWTG c/- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia