Bill
Independent Office of Animal Welfare Bill 2021
lapsed, as at 2021-11-30. (s) WILKIE, Andrew, MP portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Andrew Wilkie
- Portfolio
- (s) WILKIE, Andrew, MP
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-05-24
- second reading — 2021-05-24
- other — 2021-11-30
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-05-24.
The bill creates a new federal body to lead animal welfare policy and carry out reviews and investigations.
This office would operate independently of the agriculture department, with an advisory committee of qualified members, and focus on specific issues like live exports, kangaroo culling, and animal imports.
The bill responds to criticism of current rules and concerns about regulatory capture, and it is limited by constitutional constraints to the listed matters.
- Establishes a statutory authority for animal welfare policy.
- Gives the office review and regulatory functions over specified Commonwealth animal welfare issues.
- Requires the office to conduct inquiries, commission research, and prepare reports on topics such as live export, kangaroo killing, and animal imports.
- Sets up an Animal Welfare Advisory Committee with members from animal welfare groups and professions.
- Empowers the office to document and investigate allegations of animal cruelty.
The people affected include those involved in the live export trade, the agricultural sector, and the broader community concerned with animal welfare.
Sources
em
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