What does the 2022 Federal Election mean for animals?

The 2022 Federal Election will go down in history as a game-changing election for many reasons. It has been rightfully heralded as the ‘climate change election’, with a clear and striking progressive swing across most of the country. Yet hiding behind the major headlines was another significant victory for social justice. In the lead-up to the Election, the Labor Party pledged to introduce a raft of reforms which, if implemented, will usher in a promising new era for animal welfare in Australia.  

What has Labor committed to?  

As soon as the Election was announced, the Alliance reached out to all of the key parties and independents to find out their positions on four essential reforms for animals. Specifically, phasing out live sheep exports, establishing a national commission/office of animal welfare, introducing ministerial portfolio recognition of animal welfare and creating a new national animal welfare fund.  

The Alliance released 22 scorecards revealing where parties and candidates stood on four key reforms for animals in the lead-up to the 2022 Federal Election. Access the scorecards here

Independent body to oversee animal welfare 

Labor fully supported the most crucial proposed reform – the introduction of a very long overdue and much-needed independent animal welfare office.

They pledged to invest $1 million each year to fund the ‘Inspector-General for Animal Welfare’ to oversee national animal welfare strategy, with the aim of increasing accountability and transparency in animal welfare policy. Read about why Australia needs a National Animal Welfare Commission here.

National leadership on animal welfare 

In addition to the creation of this new body, Labor committed to investing $5 million over four years to renew the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, an important national initiative which was defunded by the Coalition Government almost a decade ago.  

Most significantly, Labor confirmed its belief that animal welfare is the ‘responsibility of all governments’ – a stark contrast to the Coalition’s ineffective delegation of responsibility to the state and territory governments.

This return to federal leadership is very welcome, especially given that its absence was a significant factor contributing to the embarrassing ‘D’ ranking Australia received on the global Animal Protection Index.   

Phase out of live sheep export  

One of the incoming Government’s top animal welfare priorities will be supporting a phase out of live sheep export, recognising that the industry is in decline and failing to safeguard animal welfare. However, they haven’t placed a deadline on the phase-out, an issue which the Alliance will be taking up with Labor over the coming year.  

We’ll also be trying to get over the line two of our other key reforms which currently have partial Labor support; the need for ministerial portfolio recognition for animal welfare and the establishment of a national animal welfare fund.  

In addition to Labor and the Greens, 9 out of 10 successfully elected independent candidates contacted by the Alliance support phasing out live sheep exports. 

Where does the crossbench (minor parties and independents) sit on these issues?  

In compiling our scorecards ahead of the Election, we reached out to a number of key ‘teal’ and incumbent independents and minor party candidates, all of whom were successfully elected.

A majority expressed either full or partial support for our suite of proposed reforms for animals. In fact the Greens, who have increased their representation across both houses, support all of the Alliance’s reforms.  

This is all good news for animals, especially considering the expanded size and influence of the new crossbench.

You can read all party and candidate responses here.

A majority of independents and minor parties expressed either full or partial support for the Alliance’s suite of proposed reforms for animals.

Some of the ‘teal’ independents meeting in Sydney. Credit: Oscar Colman/Sydney Morning Herald.

So what can we do from here?  

For the first time in almost a decade, we have a real chance to achieve meaningful change for animals at the federal level.  

The Alliance will be working closely with the newly elected parties and candidates to keep animal welfare high on the political agenda and ensure that promises made in the lead up to the Election are fulfilled.  

You can help by writing to your local MP and Senators and letting them know what you expect, and why you support the Alliance’s reform agenda.  

Together, we can make a difference.