Renewing the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy

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Introduction

This submission is in response to an invitation from the government seeking my views on animal welfare laws in Australia, specifically on the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy.

The submission is based on the view that all animals have the right to their own bodies, lives and freedom and no one has the right to take these from them. We all have an obligation to respect and protect these rights.

The new Australian Animal Welfare Strategy should recognise the above and hence the goal of the strategy should be the abolition of the use and exploitation of all animals. If the strategy is really aimed at doing what is best for the welfare of our fellow animals, it will plan for the end of the breeding, raising and killing of them.

The following are my responses to some of the particular points raised in the strategy discussion paper.

Evidence-based

The discussion paper has a strong focus on evidence and science. There is now an overwhelming body of scientific evidence demonstrating that animals are sentient and can experience pain and pleasure. In light of this evidence, it is important that the strategy recognise that animals are not merely objects to be used, but living beings who deserve to be treated with respect and justice.

Sustainability

The discussion paper also mentions that sustainability is an important component of animal welfare laws. In this case, the scientific evidence clearly shows the destruction to the environment caused by animal agriculture industries.

The United Nations has identified animal agriculture as 'one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems', including climate change, species extinction, fresh water scarcity, destruction of natural habitat, air and water pollution, soil erosion and biodiversity loss. Vast areas of land are cleared to grow crops to feed farmed animals. The methane produced by these animals is the largest single cause of climate change .

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In addition, it should be noted that animal agriculture significantly increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.

Animal agriculture uses about 54% of the Australian landmass and contributes about 50% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, when accounted over 20 years and the opportunity cost of land used for animal agriculture is taken into account.

If sustainability really is important, as the discussion paper says, then this evidence makes it clear that animal agriculture should be quickly phased out.

Governance and conflicts of interest

The discussion paper says "We will work closely with animal industries to develop the renewed
AAWS". Since the majority of suffering caused to farmed animals is by the animal industries themselves, it is astonishing that these industries should have any input into this process. There is a clear conflict of interest here and animal industries should have no part in setting ani mal welfare laws.

Currently, government responsibilities for animal welfare fall under the portfolio of departments of agriculture, whose primary mandate is to serve the interests of Australia's agriculture industries (including animal agriculture), which also demonstrates a deep conflict of interest.

The strategy should plan to protect the rights of all animals by establishing independent agencies that uphold the rights of our fellow animals and ensure strong enforcement mechanisms against violations of their rights. These governance structures must be free of animal industry and agriculture department influence.

Economy and employment

The paper exaggerates the economic activity and employment of animal industries. In fact, animal agriculture is a fairly small part of the modern Australian economy, contributing around
1.2% to the economy and the same for employment. If Australia implemen ts a planned shift to a vegan agricultural system, there is ample opportunity to transition those working in the animal agriculture industry to plant farming or alternative careers.

Community expectations and education - animals

On the matter of community expectations and education, currently the animal industries hide from the Australian public the inherent cruelty of the animal agriculture system. Even so, surveys show that 99% of Australians are opposed to animal cruelty. The s trategy should provide education resources to raise public awareness about the reality for animals in the current agriculture system. When the public understands how much suffering is involved in getting animal "food and fibre" into their hands, they will quickly extend their opposition to animal cruelty to cover all animals, including those used for food, clothing and entertainment.
These education resources should also increase the public's awareness of concepts such as the rights of animals and the speciesism embedded in most aspects of Australian society

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Community expectations and education - health

Further to the education about the reality for animals in the agriculture system, the strategy should also include resources for education about healthy living on a diet that excludes animal products. There is a widespread belief by the public, encouraged by the animal food industries, that a vegan diet is inadequate. This is contrary to the solid body of peer -reviewed scientific evidence showing that a well planned 100% vegan diet is healthy. The strategy should provide resources to provide this evidence-based education.

Community expectations and education - environment

The statement in the paper "Animals are ... suppliers of essential food and fibre resources" clearly ignores the fact that a plant-only system of agriculture would also be able to supply all the food and fibre we require. In fact, using animals as a source of food is extremely wasteful in terms of resources including land, water use, deforestation and other environmental factors. This topic should also be included in education resources.

Research

The strategy should include planning for a vegan future for Australia, including the managed phase out of animal agriculture and other animal use industries.

It should include adequately government funded research into a planned transition to a vegan agricultural system. This would cover both the positive aspects, such as improvements to the environment and land use as well as solving issues such as ensuring al ternative work opportunities are available for farmers and workers affected by the transition.

It would give assistance to workers affected by this phase out to move to other sectors that do not involve the use and exploitation of animals, such as plant -based food production or environmental work such as re-wilding and carbon capture in vegetation.

Welfare 'improvements'

The strategy should focus on the abolition of the use of animals and not on ways to improve the welfare of animals in the current system. Doing this still accepts the fundamental premise that humans have the right to exploit animals for human benefit.

Advocating for better welfare standards can inadvertently legitimise animal farming and can divert resources from the ultimate goal of animal liberation. Welfare reforms can be used by the animal industries to create a positive public image without address ing the underlying ethical issues.

The vision

The paper asks for feedback on the vision for the strategy. Here is my suggestion, which takes into account many of the points mentioned above:

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"Vision: a world where people respect the rights of all animals to their own bodies, lives and freedom, ensure justice for them and enable them to live their lives free of human exploitation, use and ownership."

Thank you for considering my submission. I look forward to seeing my views represented in the summary to be published by the government at the end of the consultation process.

Ms T. Lynch
Wurundjeri Country
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