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Animal Welfare Roles and Responsibilities
All people who have animals in their care have a responsibility to ensure that they have adequate knowledge, training and skills to apply in the protection of the welfare of animals. These people have an enduring obligation to seek expert assistance where necessary to ensure the welfare of animals.
Individual Animal Owners and Animal Users
Individual owners and users of animals have a responsibility to fulfil a duty of care for animals in their charge and as members of the community, be responsible for the welfare of those animals.
This duty of care includes:
- Understanding, supporting, promoting and applying animal welfare best practice that is contained in relevant legislation, codes of practice, guidelines and quality assurance programs.
- Ensuring that their animals do not impact adversely on other animals.
Animal Industry Groups
Industry groups have a responsibility to:
- Represent their interests and responsibilities on animal welfare issues in relevant forums in an appropriate way.
- Provide their members with factual information on animal care and welfare and encourage the adoption of best practice, national codes and standards.
- Participate in the development of codes, policies and programs aimed at maintaining sustainable animal welfare outcomes in Australia.
- Sponsor or undertake research or information gathering to advance knowledge of animal welfare, and application of that knowledge.
Community Animal Welfare Groups
These groups have a responsibility to:
- Raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote responsibility towards the welfare of animals.
- Represent their interests and responsibilities on animal welfare issues in relevant forums in an appropriate way.
- Provide their members and the community with factual information on animal care and welfare and encourage the adoption of best practice.
- Participate in the development of codes, policies and programs aimed at maintaining high standards of sustainable animal welfare in Australia.
- Sponsor information gathering to advance knowledge of animal welfare, and application of that knowledge.
- Deliver the enforcement of animal welfare legislation through inspectors authorised by governments.
Governments’ Responsibility
Australia has three tiers of government each of which may have animal welfare responsibilities, although these vary between jurisdictions. If the Strategy is to be successful, there must be effective reporting and coordinating mechanisms between the different tiers of government.
Under the Federal Constitution, States and Territories have the primary jurisdiction for animal welfare within Australia. That is to:
- Prepare and enforce animal welfare legislation.
- Provide suitable institutional and legislative frameworks, appropriate policies and programs and to promote and make these readily accessible to the public.
The Australian Government has specific powers in relation to external trade and treaties that encompasses some animal welfare issues. That is:
- Represent Australia’s position on animal welfare.
- Provide legislation with regard to the import and export of animals and animal products. Promote these to the public.
- Coordinate the development of animal welfare strategies, across local, regional, state and national levels.
- Ensure appropriate coordination and communication between different jurisdictions.
State & Territory and Australian Governments have a responsibility to:
- Work toward consistency of approach in State and Territory legislation.
- Identify, encourage and resource appropriate scientific research activities to provide scientific understanding of animal welfare issues that will underpin developments in implementation of improved and sustainable animal welfare.
- Enforce agreed animal welfare standards and encourage best husbandry practices.
- Contribute to the development of animal welfare strategies across local, regional, state and national levels.
- Facilitate consultation with all stakeholders on animal welfare issues and the ongoing development and revision of acceptable animal welfare outcomes through legislation, codes of practice, standards and quality assurance programs that are based on sound scientific evidence.
- Develop and enhance a nationally coordinated approach to emergency animal welfare planning, preparedness and response.
Local governments have responsibility for some areas of domestic and unwanted animal control and public health that has a significant impact on animal welfare. This includes the provision of feedback to state/territory governments in order to change legislation and for the promotion and maintenance of responsible animal ownership.