Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I care about the welfare of animals. It is a vital part of being a responsible human being. It is a hallmark of understanding that special position of being human and the responsibilities that that entails. We cannot behave with reckless disregard, let alone cruelty, towards any being on this planet.

Many parents try to teach their children about caring and mindfulness by guiding their interaction with their pet. Properly done, it's training in consideration, respect and tenderness. That tenderness should extend past the days of cuteness of puppies and kittens and past the days when an animal is an active investment. If you truly love an animal, you are alert to its suffering and do what you can to prevent it.

I am pleased to see this motion. We do need to remind ourselves on a regular basis of our duties in this space. The strength of animal welfare standards is a direct reflection of our nation's convictions about life on earth. Carelessness or casual disregard also results in serious problems—for example, with regard to biosecurity, which is vital to Australian primary industries.

The Albanese government supports strong animal-welfare standards, not only because we believe in what people like to describe as humane attitudes on all sorts of issues, but because we care. The coalition, including the National Party, took no commitments on animal welfare to the last election. It must have slipped their minds. Labor did make election commitments on animal welfare, and we are delivering. Since we came to office in 2022, we have committed $5 million across the four years to the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy. This strategy was last active in 2014. Not entirely coincidentally, that was one year after the coalition came to power.

Animal welfare does need national leadership. Reinvigorating the strategies sends the message that needs to be sent, both domestically and to overseas markets. The agreement between the Australian government, state and territory governments, animal industries and animal welfare groups has to be regularly revised, to ensure that we are achieving our goals in light of the ongoing research and development. We do need a strong framework and a nationwide approach to animal welfare.

So this funding we've injected into the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy will make sure that it has clear visions and priorities and, of course, a set of practical actions. In its renewed form, it will address the needs of all animals, including livestock, aquatic animals and companion animals, as well as animals used for work, sport, recreation, research and teaching. The renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is a job for those who believe in bringing people together, listening to each other and of course learning from each other.

In a land in which we've seen the introduction of rabbits, followed by the introduction of foxes, not to mention cane toads, we understand that issues relating to animals' lives have to be considered very carefully and they are never settled or set in stone. The Albanese government is demonstrating, in real, practical terms, our commitment to an approach to animal welfare that is sustainable and based on the best available research and evidence.

At the end of September this year, Dr Katherine Clift was appointed as Australia's new Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports for a five-year term. This inspectorate was also created by this government. Dr Clift will be undertaking order and review functions aimed at strengthening animal welfare assurance in a way that is informed by the kind of broad experience that we do need. She grew up on a farm, has worked as a rural veterinarian and has a deep understanding of the regulatory programs. As a Western Australian, I'm particularly grateful for her work already with the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Western Australia is well on the way to addressing many of the concerns raised by the member for Clark. Puppy farming has been outlawed, and there are progressive steps to correct the abuses in the racing industries.

Believing in and demonstrating strong animal welfare standards is vital to the international reputation of our animal and agricultural industries, and it's important for us here at home. It shows that cruelty and casual disregard appal us. We can't shrug our shoulders at cruelty or callousness of any kind, anywhere. I thank the member for Clark for the motion and I commend the work of the former minister, Minister Watt, Minister Collins and the department and staff who work to make life better not just for us but for the animals we live alongside.

See this speech in context