Farmers Raise Concerns Over Animal Welfare Election Policies

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has voiced serious concerns about the animal welfare policies being promoted ahead of the federal election, particularly those highlighted in a new scorecard produced by the activist-led Australian Alliance for Animals.

According to the Alliance’s policy review, both Labor and the Greens have made significant animal welfare commitments without consulting the broader public or engaging with the farming community.

NFF President David Jochinke said farmers are alarmed by what appears to be continued reliance on advice from “a small, city-based activist minority” with little or no direct farming experience—some of whom, he noted, have previously trespassed onto private agricultural properties.

“Our animals are our number one priority,” Mr Jochinke said. “Animal welfare decisions must be based on science and made in close consultation with the people who actually care for animals every day—our farmers.”

Key policy proposals flagged by the NFF include:

• The development of an animal welfare trade policy, which could see animal welfare provisions included in future trade deals.
• A further expansion of the role of the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Export.
• Support for extending Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to all animal welfare organisations, a move the NFF says could see activist groups benefit from increased funding via tax-deductible donations.

These developments come amid the Government’s plan to phase out live sheep exports, a move the NFF argues was made under pressure from activists and without transparency—particularly in relation to the recent Australia-United Arab Emirates trade agreement.

Mr Jochinke said such decisions show a worrying trend of policy being shaped without adequate input from rural communities and those working in agriculture.

“Trade policy should focus on market access and economic opportunity, not be used as a platform for ideological agendas. Including groups that are fundamentally opposed to farming in policy-making is damaging to the future of Australian agriculture,” he said.

He added that extending DGR status to extreme activist groups would not advance genuine animal welfare, but instead fund campaigns that actively target and undermine the farming sector.

“There are well-respected animal welfare organisations doing meaningful work. But there are also groups that operate outside the law—invading farms, harassing workers, and spreading misinformation. These aren’t charitable acts. They’re attacks on regional Australia.”

The NFF said it is particularly frustrated given that many farming organisations, along with government and welfare representatives, are scheduled to participate in a roundtable next week on the renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS).

Mr Jochinke highlighted that the farming community had engaged constructively in recent animal welfare initiatives, including the December launch of the National Statement on Animal Welfare.

However, he warned that the Government’s recent decision to ban live sheep exports—despite Australia's strong animal welfare standards—had already shaken farmers’ confidence in the policy process.

“Labor says they won’t ban live cattle exports like they did with sheep, but many producers will be left wondering how long that promise will last,” he said.

The office of the Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports, which became the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports in late 2023, is still in its early stages under the leadership of Dr Katherine Clift, who was appointed in September 2024. Mr Jochinke expressed frustration that such major policy directions are being announced before Dr Clift’s first review has even been published.

“It’s extremely disappointing that these significant proposals are being floated with so little regard for farmers’ input or scientific evidence. It feels more like a pitch for city votes than a genuine effort to improve animal welfare.”

JBR does not endorse any political party or policy position and reports this issue solely in the interest of public information and agricultural awareness.

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source: beefcentral.com