Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) that Australia has an animal welfare crisis, and that cruelty is commonplace in greyhound and horse racing, live exports, the industrial production of food and fibre, rodeos, and puppy and kitten farms;

(b) this cruelty has been on full display recently in:

(i) intensive commercial dog breeding facilities in Tasmania which operated under grossly inhumane and inadequate conditions, where female dogs were forced to breed at appalling rates;

(ii) the treatment of dogs in the greyhound racing industry, which results in unbearable cruelty, injury and even death, for example, in 2024 alone there has been almost 100 on-track deaths and 8,449 injuries Australia-wide; and

(iii) overbreeding of retired racehorses, where the aim is to produce as many foals as possible that might one day generate a return on investment—sadly, as in the case of Black Caviar, this is poorly regulated and often involves almost constant pregnancy and birthing for so-called 'retired' horses, dramatically increasing the risks of injury, infection and death; and

(c) that state and territory governments have not done enough to address this crisis; and

(2) therefore calls on the Government to:

(a) establish a statutory Independent Office of Animal Welfare which will take a leadership role on animal welfare matters at a federal level, including developing a national animal welfare strategy, conducting inquiries and reviews into the effectiveness and implementation of our animal welfare laws; and providing independent, science-based advice to governments on animal welfare issues; and

(b) work with states and territories to improve, harmonise and implement strict animal welfare standards, guidelines and laws.

I would add that cruelty to animals is something I have long stood against in this place because, like most in the community, we understand that animal cruelty is just plain wrong. It is of course also a shocking reflection on the ethics and character of those who inflict it or turn a blind eye to it.

Imagine the community's shock, then, when in 2013 the Abbott government abolished the national strategy for animal welfare and its advisory committee. Imagine the community's dismay when the consequence of that decision was that animal welfare standards became the sole preserve of the states and territories. After all, this is the level of government who have consistently done a terrible job safeguarding animals and clearly can't be trusted. No wonder we welcome this government's commitment to at least re-establish an animal welfare strategy, with $5 million set aside for that purpose in the last budget. But it's only a small step and is well short of the comprehensive national oversight needed, because we have drifted into an undeniable animal welfare crisis, and that's where we'll stay without reform.

This crisis is particularly acute where commodification and profits intersect with animal welfare. For example, many in my home state of Tasmania are appalled by revelations as recent as today about conditions in the state's largest puppy mill, Tasmanian Labradoodles. Mercifully, a lengthy legal battle finally led to the RSPCA closing the mill in July and rehoming more than 250 dogs. But the reality is that many puppy mills still legally exist across the country, using dogs as breeding machines for profit, with some puppies fetching many thousands of dollars each. And, in the process, the breeding animals are often deprived of even their own most basic needs and spend their lives in crates or cages, bearing litter after litter. Rarely if ever are they allowed out to run, play or curl up on the couch with the family.

Another example of the crisis is the greyhound racing industry, where welfare issues are well documented and widespread. They are clearly not the result of a few bad apples, as some would have you believe. No wonder my office is constantly contacted by members of the community who share my disgust with this industry and its appalling treatment of dogs. Frankly, shame on the industry for the outrageous levels of injury and death, physical overexertion, inadequate housing, lack of socialisation and environmental enrichment, cruel training practices, illegal live baiting, administration of banned or unregistered substances and euthanasia of poorly performing or unwanted dogs. Indeed, just since lodging my notice for this motion last month, the number of reported on-track deaths this year has increased from 98 to 116. Track injuries have grown to 8,449 to 9,508. Moreover, 43—or one in every six—dogs 'retired' from the industry in the last year has been killed, which is appalling. It is even more so when you consider that Australia has the largest greyhound racing industry in the world and is one of just seven countries where it's still legal. But, of course, the $4 billion waged annually on greyhound racing gives you a clue as to why governments have continued to turn a blind eye to this reckless cruelty.

Noting that the Melbourne Cup is tomorrow, let's not forget the horse racing industry, where seven horses have died running the Cup in the last decade. One horse is killed on an Australian racetrack every two days. Again, there's the issue of overbreeding, as illustrated shockingly in the case of Black Caviar, who, in the 10 years since her so-called retirement, was forced to bear nine foals before becoming sick and being euthanised. That is not an unusual story—broodmares routinely being constantly either pregnant or lactating or both for their entire breeding lives, without any substantial rest, and ending up with complex health problems. Indeed, mares in Australia are forced to bear around 15,000 foals each year, only about 30 per cent of which ever make it to the track.

All this is to say that we're in a crisis and that we should be working to fix it. That's why I'm moving this motion, calling on the government to set up an independent office of animal welfare, an agency which can take a leadership role in developing and overseeing animal welfare in Australia and bring the states and territories to the table to improve standards and to address this crisis. To do anything less is unconscionable complicity in ongoing cruelty.

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to 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.

Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like the vast majority of Australians, I'm an animal lover. As a child I regularly holidayed with my family on our property near Trunkey Creek, where I learned to herd the sheep, drag them out for shearing and sort the wool. I helped them lamb and I rode our half-wild horses around the property. We went to agricultural shows and rodeos, and we regularly cared for poddy goats and lambs. Mum bred pedigree dogs that were showered with the love of a young family. But for a country which loves animals and which has relied on animals in so many ways over the centuries—for transport, food, fibre, sport, work on farms, assistance in dealing with disabilities and companionship—there are far too many ways in which Australia mistreats them. The Australian Alliance for Animals recently stated:

The reality is, our laws, standards, and regulatory systems on the whole, are failing animals. This is because within the current governance system there are conflicts of interests among those in power, inconsistencies across states and territories, loopholes in laws, and standards that ignore science and community expectations.

Let me talk about the widespread cruelty of one industry as an example, the greyhound racing industry. In 2017, following a damning investigation, the multibillion dollar Australian greyhound racing industry vowed to clean up its act. The investigation had exposed the preventable deaths of as many as 17,000 young dogs each year. Sadly, despite a short-lived ban, a former chief veterinarian has again revealed that widespread abuse continues in this industry, with dogs being raced at 'barbaric' rates, euthanised without cause or left to rot in metal cages when they can no longer compete. Then there are the puppy farms. As the RSPCA describes, breeding dogs may be kept in overcrowded conditions or extreme confinement, with some never let out of cages. They may live in constant fear or stress, are never socialised and do not receive basic care such as exercise, grooming, vaccinations or the veterinary care they may need.

There's not time today to discuss in detail the many other examples of animal cruelty being permitted to continue in Australia, including live animal export. State and territory governments have quite simply failed to do enough. So it is to be commended that the federal Labor government has committed to releasing a new Australian animal welfare strategy. Australia had such a strategy in the past, but in 2014, as Prime Minister, Tony Abbott withdrew funding and disbanded the animal welfare unit within the federal agriculture department—just another example of another backward step. It's pleasing to see this government take up the issue in its first term, albeit at a slow pace. The August 2024 report from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry simply provides an overview of a first tranche of consultation designed to inform the renewal of the animal welfare strategy. It shows that there is much to do.

My electorate of Mackellar certainly expects action on this issue. Since being elected, around 2½ years ago, I've received hundreds of emails from constituents expressing profound concern about animal welfare. They have expressed their horror in relation to everything from live animal export to greyhound racing, from puppy farms to horseracing—particularly topical given that the race that stops the nation is on tomorrow. And so I urge the government to act with alacrity to reintroduce an animal welfare strategy. As the member for Clark is advocating in this place today, an important part of this strategy must be the establishment of an independent office for animal welfare. Such an independent body is critical to minimise the influence of vested interests, such as the gambling industry, on decisions. Even in today's paper, it was reported that in the past decade over $2.7 million in donations from the gambling industry have been made towards major political parties—Liberal, Labor and the Nationals. Donations from the biggest companies involved in horse betting to the major parties increased from $66,000 in 2013 to $488,000 in 2022-23, an increase of over 600 per cent. This is precisely why it's essential that an independent office of animal welfare be established. (Time expired)

Alicia Payne (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this important motion brought by the member for Clark and thank him for bringing it into the parliament. Australia has not had a government so committed to animal welfare as the current government, and I'm very proud to be a part of it. We believe in strong animal welfare standards, and we believe that all animals should be treated humanely. This is something that my constituents also care deeply about. In fact, one of the first and definitely one of the biggest letter-writing campaigns I received in 2019 was about the live sheep export trade, and this was in the wake of damning evidence of animal cruelty in that industry. I know that many colleagues from around the country have similarly had many constituents get in touch with them around this. Back then, I wrote to the then agriculture minister, David Littleproud, calling on him to end this trade. I'm incredibly proud that it was a Labor government that was able to get this important reform through, something that my constituents demanded, that rank-and-file members mobilised for across the country and that former agriculture minister Murray Watt was able to make happen.

As the previous speakers have highlighted, this week we will see the running of the Melbourne Cup, the race that once 'stopped a nation'. While many Australians continue to tune in every year, a growing number of Australians do not feel the same excitement as they once did. Light has been shone on poor animal welfare outcomes in the racing industry and a growing number of Australians no longer want to be part of this event. As this motion highlights, we've seen absolutely terrible outcomes for animals, particularly in the greyhound racing industry. This year, we've already seen almost 100 on-track deaths and almost 8,500 injuries. For horses, the story is no better. Between August 2021 and July 2022, 139 horses died. At least one horse dies every two days on Australian race tracks. In Victoria, the jumps racing industry still exists. Jumps racing is 20 times more dangerous to horses than flat racing. Every other state and territory has already banned this practice. In August of this year, three horses were killed during a single event.

I understand the growing sense of community frustration with this industry, and so does our government. Since coming to power, we have strengthened our national approach to animal welfare. We're delivering on key election commitments and have committed $5 million to the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy. Earlier this year, the government confirmed our commitment to jointly lead the renewal of the strategy, confirming our commitment to a modern, sustainable, evidence based and science based approach to animal welfare. We're demonstrating that Australia's strong animal welfare standards are important to strengthen the reputation of our animal and agricultural industries with trading partners and the community. Our funding will ensure that the strategy includes a vision, key priorities and practical actions. The final strategy is scheduled to be released in 2027.

The renewal of the strategy will be undertaken in collaboration with state and territory governments and in consultation with industry and animal welfare stakeholders. This is in stark contrast to the coalition. Unbelievably, the coalition took no commitments on animal welfare to the last election, showing their complete disregard for the importance of strong animal welfare standards to the Australian people. As the previous speaker, the member for Mackellar, drew attention to, the previous Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, actually abolished the part of the department with responsibility for animal welfare, which is shameful. I am proud that Labor is taking a different approach to this, and, once again, I want to thank the member for Clark for bringing forward this important motion to the House today.

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.