Animal welfare, animal liberation and animal rights
National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare
Position Statement - May 2006
Animal welfare, in the context of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, is a human responsibility towards animals in Australia and encompasses all aspects of animal health and well being, including proper housing, management, population control and habitat management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane killing.
Animal welfare, animal liberation and animal rights are not synonymous terms. Animal liberation and animal rights represent a wide diversity of philosophical views and personal values. NCCAW has considered the philosophical views and personal values of all stakeholders, including advocates of animal liberation and animal rights, in developing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and has omitted value statements that are incompatible with the responsible use of animals for human purposes, such as companionship, food, fibre, research and teaching conducted for the benefit of humans and animals in Australian society.
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