Public consultation on the topic is closed.
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.
How you had your say
This Have Your Say survey was launched on 17 March 2025 and closed on 14 April 2025.
We sought your feedback 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.
Next steps
Your views will help shape the renewed AAWS. We will publish a summary of views received on this Have Your Say page and the Renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy website.
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. This supports our objective to build on successes of the lapsed strategy, while reflecting contemporary animal welfare science and evidence and recognising modern challenges and opportunities.
The AAWS will be released in tranches by chapter as they are developed, with the strategy expected to be finalised in 2027.
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.
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.