EMAIL THE MINISTER TO SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF ANIMAL WELFARE

We need an Independent Office of Animal Welfare.

Right now, responsibility for animal welfare sits with the Minister for Agriculture, even though their Department’s designated purpose is to drive stronger primary industries — an inherent conflict of interest when animal agriculture profits are too often made by cutting corners on animal welfare.

The Greens’ Independent Office of Animal Welfare Bill will not only prioritise the welfare of animals at a government level, but give them an independent voice.

The Office would remove primary responsibility for animal welfare from the Minister and allow direct and independent oversight of the enforcement of animal welfare laws, as well as the development of animal welfare policies and legislation. Watch my speech in Parliament.

An Independent Animal Welfare Office would be:

An independent, statutory body dedicated to the best interests of animals
Empowered to develop an animal welfare strategy, policies and guidelines — and then enforce them
Able to conduct inquiries, commission research and prepare reports
Responsible for overseeing the treatment and welfare of animals, including those in the greyhound racing, horse racing, agriculture and medical research industries

Fighting for an Independent Office of Animal Welfare has been core Greens business for over a decade. With this Greens Bill, we will ensure that animal welfare always takes priority over the profits of Big Ag.

Send an email to key MPs to support our Bill for an Independent Office of Animal Welfare!

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Our animal welfare laws are in urgent need of reform.
In 2020, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Animal Cruelty Laws recommended the Government take action to establish an independent statutory body, the Independent Office of Animal Welfare, to oversee the animal welfare framework and the enforcement of animal cruelty laws in our state.
The Greens Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2023 will do just that.
Animal welfare organisations and industry professionals have advocated for the establishment of an independent office for many years. It is time that NSW commits to making this happen. 
I am concerned that our current animal welfare laws and practices in NSW are not in line with community and industry expectations. As you would know, the Agriculture Minister and the Department of Primary Industries currently has primary responsibility for animal welfare in NSW, whilst also being responsible for ensuring the viability of the agriculture industry. This can and does result in significant conflicts of interest when the agriculture industry’s profits would be increased by lax welfare standards and enforcement. Additionally, this responsibility should not be imposed upon the NSW Police Force or charitable organisations such as the RSPCA, but instead a state-funded and constituted, independent and dedicated expert statutory body.
Establishing an independent office of animal welfare would create a single government body to act as a point of nexus for those various government bodies and charitable organisations, allowing coordinated progress on animal welfare through centralised independent oversight and a strategic framework focused solely on animal welfare outcomes. In addition, the office would also be responsible for liaising with all bodies responsible for national animal welfare policies and guidelines, and for educating the community on animal welfare issues. 
NSW Labor made a commitment before their election to state government to establish a statutory independent office in accordance with the recommendations from the 2020 Inquiry. Labor have now been in government for a full year, and we are still waiting for an independent office to be established and backed with robust funding and resourcing.
An Independent Office of Animal Welfare which is solely focused on animal welfare and the enforcement of animal cruelty laws will allow NSW to properly protect animals across the state. We can ensure that for the first time NSW is finally on track to have an animal welfare regime that aligns with scientific knowledge, technological advances and community expectations. 
I am asking that you support the Greens Bill and uphold the long fought wishes of the animal welfare sector, stakeholders and professionals. It is key that animals have a dedicated and independent voice to align NSW animal welfare laws with community expectations.

I would like to BCC myself