2024 saw Animal Care Australia expand our reach and our influence across multiple reviews and amendments to animal-based legislation across the country. This included pets in strata and residential tenancies; dog ownership including so-called ‘puppy farm’ legislation; cat ownership including cat containment policies; animal industries including veterinary workforce shortages and the review of Standard Occupation Classifications; the shelter/rescue and pound industries and several attempts by local councils to limit how your pets can be kept, including restricting numbers with unrealistic and uneducated abandon.
So many aspects of our involvement highlighted an overwhelming lack of understanding of basic animal keeping needs, raising questions about the level of training and experience held by Animal Management Officers, Parks & Wildlife Officers, rescue/shelter operators and the most concerning – animal welfare compliance and enforcement officers, particularly RSPCA Inspectorate.
This is really concerning given the levels of responsibilities off-loaded by respective Ministers responsible for the varying portfolios. It continues to remain clear around the country that those Ministers are happy to accept the accolade when a new initiative is announced and yet are still happy to free their conscience and that of their government by shedding the responsibility of the aspects that might tarnish their ‘look’ in the eyes of voters. It is easier to task charitable organisations to rescue and care for animals including pets and native wildlife – the latter being property of the Crown – and also the unenviable and yet necessary responsibility of dealing with animal welfare compliance and animal cruelty.
The last couple of years has seen a minor shift in some governments taking on more ownership of the approach to dealing with animal cruelty however while they still continue to ‘contract’ that responsibility to an organisation that has been the subject of many Parliamentary Inquiries, major complaints and reported corruption and despite all of those findings is still allowed to self-govern without any real legislated powers for the government to intervene is gob-smacking astounding. The ability to access freedom of information or complain to an ombudsman does not equal accountability, especially when reporting to a Minister sees you sent back to the organisation you want to report against.
It is time for governments to own their responsibilities. It is time for each state and territory to have an Animal Welfare Commissioner and an Office of Animal Welfare overseen by that Commissioner.
In November 2024 I was re-elected as President for another three-year term, and responding to all of the above will be my priority.
In addition to all of the usual Reviews, proposed new Bills, Council Animal Management Plans and more, Animal Care Australia will continue to advocate for you and your pets and animals. Our priorities will include but are not limited to:
- Seeking the implementation of an Animal Welfare Commissioner – responsible for overseeing animal welfare improvements, outcomes, compliance, and enforcement. This means government funded compliance and enforcement officers who are held fully accountable by the government and the Parliament and therefore to society.
- Ensuring the needs of companion animals and pets are adequately and responsibly included in animal welfare legislation at all levels of government including the federal government’s Animal Welfare Strategy and National Standards.
- Regulating the rescue and shelter industries. Some of this industry are partly funded by government while all receive charitable funding with limited reporting requirements, and next to no accountability of their actions – that must change.
- Identifying, and clarifying the increasing influences of animal protection (nee: animal rights) ideologies to ensure only animal welfare and animal welfare science are maintained by government.
As President one of the more important roles is to be the government liaison person with Members of Parliament, their staff, and the respective departments. This is ongoing and I have to say was quite the learning curve (still learning) as each state has its own structures and equally so does each Party. This role is necessary in order to ensure that we have the ability to call out proposed amendments or matters that need to be addressed.
It does not always pay off as politics is a complicated beast that one can never truly know how it will play out. It is frustrating when a Shadow Government acknowledges the issues with a department need to be addressed and when they become Government then relies on the direction of that same department seemingly forgetting the issues.
On the flip side it is great when I see our input built into legislation or a Member of Parliament seeks out our perspective or had no understanding of a topic but now has information they can utilise to hold an educated position.
The sad reality of this work is that it mostly goes unnoticed. It happens behind closed doors. Many of the conversations simply cannot be publicly announced in order to retain the trust and respect of the members and staff. We can announce much later that we contributed but the true extent of the workload, the debates, to and froing and time committed to each subject is only known by a select few.
I am honoured to be respected by the Animal Care Australia Committee to continue as President and for that I am deeply thankful to each and every member: Sam, Michelle, Sue, Joanne, Karri, Kylie, Michaela, Rachel, and Tracey. I want to thank our other volunteers within the STAT, Social Media and Fundraising & Sponsorship Teams who assisted throughout the year
My previous three-year term held so many surprises and frustrations and included state elections across the country. I am sure 2025 and beyond will bring many more. Regardless we look forward to advocating for you and protecting the ability of everyone to own a pet. Whether that be one pet or multiple. Animals and particularly pets bring so much into our lives and in return we have the responsibility to ensure their time with us is with a loving and caring home.
By: Michael Donnelly – Animal Care Australia President. Originally published: March 2025 ACE Newsletter.
