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

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • 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
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    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
    • 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
    • Report a concern
    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 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    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. The Animal Welfare Task Group
  6. Virtual fencing technology

Sidebar first - Animal

  • The Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG)
    • Communiqués and reporting
    • Current standards and guidelines projects
    • Members
    • Terms of Reference
    • Virtual fencing technology
    • Work Plan

Virtual fencing technology

In response to the referral from Agriculture Senior Officials, the Animal Welfare Task Group (AWTG) is examining the use of virtual fencing technology - GPS-enabled neckband or collar devices worn by livestock producing electric pulses to deter animals from approaching or crossing a virtual fence boundary. An AWTG subgroup is examining animal welfare issues associated with virtual fencing technology, with a view to harmonising the approach to the use of this technology across jurisdictions.

The AWTG virtual fencing project is focused on supporting a harmonised approach to promoting optimal animal welfare outcomes, regardless of the type of virtual fencing product or where it is used.

 
Timeline text

Project timeline

Time points
2021

Project initiated

2022

AWTG subgroup established, met 3 times from 2022-2024

2023

Literature review published

2024

Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) established, met 6 times

Late 2024

Draft guide developed

Early 2025

Final consultation with SRG and subgroup

Mid 2025

Feedback incorporated into guide

By end 2025

Seek endorsement and finalisation

Current progress

In 2024, AWTG agreed to develop an Australian Animal Welfare Guide for Virtual Fencing as the preferred approach for harmonisation. Development of the draft guide is continuing to progress. Feedback on the draft guide has been sought from a Stakeholder Reference Group and the AWTG subgroup. The subgroup is working towards endorsement and publication of the guide by the end of 2025.

Purpose of the guide

States and territories regulate the use of virtual fencing. However, as virtual fencing technology is rapidly evolving and jurisdictions currently have differing regulatory baselines, it was agreed that a guide is the preferred approach for harmonisation as it can be developed relatively quickly and allows flexibility.

The guide will promote optimal animal welfare outcomes with the use of virtual fencing technology and its applications, for beef and dairy cattle, based on current science and evidence. It will not capture its use for other animal species but will acknowledge that technological developments and animal welfare research on this topic is ongoing.

The development process will differ from a standards and guidelines development process and the product delivered at completion will also be different. States and territories will be able to use the guide content as they see fit in their individual legislation and regulatory frameworks. The guide is not intended to provide recommendations on whether individual states and territories should support or oppose the use of virtual fencing technology.

As the guide will not contain recommendations for regulations, or recommend regulatory decisions, the guide will not undergo regulation impact analysis or public consultation. States and territories may consider further steps if they intend to make regulatory changes.

For further information on the commercial use of virtual fencing technology in each jurisdiction, refer to State and Territory Government Animal Welfare Links and Legislation to contact your relevant state or territory.

Scientific literature review

In February 2022, the subgroup identified the need to conduct an independent scientific literature review on animal welfare considerations for virtual fencing for livestock, which is now completed. The guide will be underpinned by this scientific literature review.

View a copy of the finalised literature review:

Download

Independent scientific literature review on animal welfare considerations for virtual fencing (PDF 771 KB)
Independent scientific literature review on animal welfare considerations for virtual fencing (DOCX 184 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

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 by the subgroup.

View a copy of the addendum:

Download

Addendum – additional information provided by Halter (PDF 209 KB)
Addendum – additional information provided by Halter (DOCX 30.4 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Stakeholder Reference Group

In April 2024, the subgroup established a Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) to inform work to support harmonisation. Membership of the SRG consists of agricultural and animal welfare scientists and representatives from agricultural industry groups, animal welfare organisations and the veterinary industry from across Australia, with one representative from New Zealand. A series of meetings of the SRG were convened in mid-2024 and have now concluded. The guide will be developed considering input provided by the SRG.

View a copy of the SRG Terms of Reference:

Download

Virtual Fencing Stakeholder Reference Group Terms of Reference (PDF 155 KB)
Virtual Fencing Stakeholder Reference Group Terms of Reference (DOCX 46 KB) 

If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Contacting the AWTG

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

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
Page last updated: 09 May 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram