The Australian Government is currently operating in caretaker mode. This website is hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. We will continue to gather stakeholder feedback during the caretaker period to inform our future advice to government following the election.

Get involved and share your views on the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy.

The Australian Government is renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) to establish Australia’s commitment to modern, sustainable, evidence and science-based welfare practice. Consultation during 2025 is focused on the development of the animal group chapters, which will outline the practical actions needed for meaningful improvements in Australia’s animal welfare system.

Each chapter of the AAWS will be dedicated to one of 6 animal groups.

  • Livestock and production animals

  • Aquatic animals

  • Animals in the wild (native, introduced and feral animals)

  • Companion animals

  • Animals used for work, sport and recreation

  • Animals used in research and teaching.

Current consultation

We’d like to hear from you on whether the actions identified under the previous AAWS remain important for a renewed, modern and future-focused AAWS.

Your input to this round of public consultation will help us identify:

  • how important the action is for inclusion in the animal group chapters of the renewed strategy, or

  • whether the action is no longer relevant to the current animal welfare landscape.

You will also have the opportunity to provide additional comments or suggestions as part of the survey. 

Previous consultation

First round of consultation – what did we ask and how did we use the input?

Through the first round of consultation on the renewal of the AAWS, held in 2024, we sought your views and insights on:

  • a vision for the strategy

  • work streams describing the priority areas for the strategy

  • the challenges and opportunities for animal welfare in Australia.

This input informed the development of the National Statement on Animal Welfare, which underpins the renewal of AAWS and has been endorsed by Australia’s Agriculture Ministers.

Submissions to this first round of consultation, where permission to publish was provided, are available here.

Next steps

Consultation during 2025 is focused on the development of the animal group chapters, which will outline the practical actions needed for meaningful improvements in Australia’s animal welfare system. The practical actions will be mapped against the priority workstreams identified during the first round of consultation.

To help inform this work, we are undertaking a stocktake of priority areas for action for animal welfare identified through the previous strategy, which lapsed in 2014.

The AAWS will be released in tranches by chapter as they are developed, with the strategy expected to be finalised in 2027.

Your views will help shape the renewed AAWS. We will publish a summary of views received through this Have Your Say page and the Renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy  website.

Consultation will be ongoing. We will test insights and priorities throughout the development process from 2024-2027.

To stay informed on the renewal of the AAWS, including the outcome of this consultation and future engagement opportunities, subscribe to the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy newsletter or visit our website.

Timeline

  • 2024 public consultation
    closed

    March - June 2024

  • 2024 consultation summary published
    closed

    August 2024

  • Submissions published
    closed

    September 2024

  • 2025 public consultation open
    current

    17 March 2025

  • 2025 public consultation closes
    pending

    14 April 2025

  • Strategy finalised
    pending

    Mid 2027

Key documents:

Renewed Australian Animal Welfare Strategy 2023-24 Budget factsheet (PDF 235 KB) (Word 308 KB)

Important links:

Renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) webpage

Get involved

Australian Animal Welfare Strategy newsletter subscription


Stay up to date

For updates on the renewal of the AAWS, including the outcome of this consultation and future engagement opportunities, subscribe to the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy newsletter or visit our website.