Improving the Welfare of Animals in Victoria: Draft Action Plan 2016-2021

The NFF has lodged a submission in response to the to the Victorian Government Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources on Improving the Welfare of Animals in Victoria: Draft Action Plan 2016-2021. The draft action plan can be found here: https://animalwelfarevic.economicdevelopment.vic.gov.au/about-the-action-plan

The Draft Action Plan outlines in its introduction that animals play many roles in our lives, including food and fibre production. However, the NFF notes that the economic function production animals play in Victoria is hardly mentioned in the document’s three key areas of action. The NFF also observes that the Draft Action Plan defines animal industries as “all industries and businesses that use animals”. The NFF questions the accuracy of this definition in light of the very different functions animals have. It is essential that animals farmed for the production of food and fibre are classed differently to animals kept for pleasure.