What is being consulted on?

The Australian Government (through DAFF and AHA) has already undertaken a review of Australia’s Animal Welfare Codes of Practice and determined that those Codes should be converted into Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.  Work has begun to determine the basic scale and scope of the Land Transport Standards and to identify the costs and benefits of the Land Transport Standards.  DAFF and AHA are now seeking views from interested parties about how well:

• the Draft Land Transport Standards make the necessary specifications for protecting the welfare of livestock while being transported on land; and

• the associated Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) demonstrates the need for the Land Transport Standards and identifies its costs and benefits.

DAFF and AHA welcome your comments on those two main points.  This consultation process is not seeking views on the live export of livestock.  

Who is this consultation for?  

The public consultation builds on consultative processes involving key stakeholders in drafting the Land Transport Standards, which commenced in November 2006. That process has included a range of formal and informal activities, including formation and operation of the Land Transport Standards Reference Group (SRG), which liaises with the Animal Welfare Working Group (AWWG).  The SRG is comprised of key stakeholders who have formal responsibility for livestock transport and/or who would be most directly affected by the Land Transport Standards (representing the cattle, sheep/wool, pig, poultry, horse, goat, emu/ostrich industries; livestock transporters; saleyards; lot feeders; veterinarians; animal welfare organizations; and government agencies).  Representatives from many of these stakeholder groups have met several times and have had roles in assisting with drafting the Land Transport Standards.

At the 6th meeting of the SRG, final preparations were made for releasing the Draft Land Transport Standards. While a number of outstanding issues were identified and for which full consensus could not be reached, the SRG agreed that the Draft Standards could proceed to public consultation.  These outstanding issues will be of particular interest to the SRG, AHA, and DAFF when making final revisions to the document after the public consultation process.  These issues are included in Appendix eight in the RIS Summary.

The public consultation phase now seeks views from a range of people interested in the land transport of livestock, including those people directly or indirectly affected by the implementation of the Land Transport Standards and/or who have not yet had the opportunity to comment on the Land Transport Standards or the RIS.  Once the formal public consultation is complete, there will be further meetings of the SRG and the AWWG, where submissions from this consultation process will be considered.

How will my submission be processed?

You may participate in this consultation process by (1) completing a survey or (2) preparing your own submission.  All written submissions will be acknowledged by email or letter.   All submissions (in survey and written form) will be considered public documents.

Once the public consultation closes, all comments (in survey form or full written submissions) will be considered carefully by Animal Health Australia (AHA) and the Standards Reference Group (SRG). In considering the consultation responses (surveys and written submissions), AHA and the SRG will be particularly interested in how satisfied stakeholders and the public are that the Draft Land Transport Standards adequately specify requirements for the safe transport of livestock on land and that the RIS has adequately identified the costs and benefits of the Land Transport Standards and demonstrated the need for the Standards.

Assessment of feedback from the consultation process will give due consideration to:

• the extent to which suggestions strengthen the intent and objectives of the Standards;
• the volume and variety of responses making similar suggestions (ie, not just a form letter based on a campaign);
• anticipated adverse impacts from submitted suggestions; and
• the viability of implementing any suggested change.

The Land Transport Standards Reference Group (SRG) will then recommend particular changes to the Land Transport Standards and/or the RIS to the Animal Welfare Working Group (AWWG).  In turn, the AWWG will pass on its recommendations to those Ministerial Committees responsible for approving animal welfare regulations.

Click here to download more information about the decision-making process.

A summary of the consultation responses will be made publicly available on the Animal Welfare Standards Consultation website (www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au) for a period after the consultation closes.