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6. Research and Development
Research and development in Australia is currently carried out through a range of programs and institutions, with funding derived from both public and private sectors. There are established national coordination and funding arrangements in certain sectors such as the livestock production sector. Livestock industries contribute funds through statutory levies and receive matching ‘dollar for dollar’ funding from the Australian Government when spent on approved research and development projects. Industry research and development corporations manage the process of selection, funding and management of eligible research projects in line with agreed annual operational plans to deliver industry objectives and priorities. Animal welfare research, complementing that undertaken overseas but aimed at specific issues within Australia, is carried out within this framework.
In addition, Australia is well-placed to access research and development outcomes from overseas animal welfare studies carried out in a wide range of countries. However, many of these studies are inappropriate to Australian conditions and specific research projects are therefore undertaken in this country.