Page 12 - NPN November22

New inquiry into food
security in Australia
THE Australian Par- shown that we cannot bution on the cost and
liament’s Agriculture Committee has com- menced an inquiry into food security in Australia and is calling for submissions from interested stakeholders.
take anything for grant- ed,” Ms Swanson said.
availability of food.
The committee is also interested in exploring the impact of climate change on food produc-
Committee chair Meryl Swanson said that food security was a growing issue nationally and internationally, with population growth, war, weather and climate all posing risks to the avail- ability and accessibility of food.
“More importantly, these factors will have a direct impact on the cost of living for all Austral- ians.”
while climate change poses a continual risk to farmers, the committee was keen to see how ag- ricultural producers are adapting and innovating in response to these cli- mate challenges.
“While Australia was one of the most food secure nations in the world, recent events such as the pandemic and widespread floods have
The committee will ex- amine ways to strength- en and safeguard food security in Australia.
Submissions to the in- quiry will be open until December 9, 2022.
“Input shortages and disruptions to the global supply chains that Aus- tralian producers depend on are likely to have a significant impact on the productivity and profit- ability of the sector.
tion in Australia.
Ms Swanson said that
In particular, it will focus on local food pro- duction and the impact of supply chain distri-
Further information, including the terms of reference, can be found at aph.gov.au/agriculture
The Agriculture Committee has commenced an inquiry into food security in Australia. Photo: Anshu A
Vic’s animal care and protection laws
n Feedback will inform Exposure Draft legislation
relevant other legislation. These exceptions would not prevent authorised officers from exercising powers under the new laws to determine wheth-
VICTORIA’S animal care and protection laws are currently under re- form, with feedback un- der review following the closure on October 16.
They showed over- whelming support for laws that recognise the latest animal science and provide clarity about how animals should be treated.
consultation with stake- holders and the communi- ty will continue as regula- tions and other legislative tools to support the new Act are developed. Proposed approach for application of new laws
er an exception applies.
In 2020, high-level pol- icy proposals for a new Act to replace the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 were released for public feed- back.
Other tasks to inform the new legislation have included research to bet- ter understand the per- spectives and expecta- tions of Victorians for animal welfare.
The new laws would ap- ply to the actions of hu- mans towards any animal in Victoria, while also recognising that animals can be owned and used for legitimate and neces- sary purposes.
Why this approach?
The policy proposals were developed following consultations with repre- sentatives of more than 50 animal-based industry and community organisa- tions, along with animal scientists, animal welfare regulators and others with expertise or an interest in animal welfare.
Animal protection laws in other jurisdictions have been reviewed, along with potential economic impacts and market op- portunities of reforming the laws.
This plan provides an- other opportunity for feedback
To deal with circum- stances where legitimate and necessary activities involving animals regu- lated under other legisla- tion potentially conflict with care and cruelty of- fences, a clearly defined exception to the offences would be provided in the new laws.
This includes activi- ties such as livestock and poultry farming, fishing (commercial, recreation- al, aquaculture and tra- ditional fishing), hunting and racing.
More than 1200 re- sponses on the proposals were received.
Developing a new Act takes time.
The exceptions aim to reduce and manage any risks associated with these activities by being transparent about how the new laws apply.
We need to make sure we get the laws right.
People could not be prosecuted for a care or cruelty offence under the new laws when undertak- ing:
Clarity is needed around the interaction of differ- ent animal-focused legis- lation in Victoria.
The plan provided an opportunity to give feed- back, and closed on Oc- tober 16.
The new animal care and protection laws aim to provide this clarity so that people can be con- fident they are not com- mitting an offence when undertaking a legal and legitimate activity.
Providing exceptions to the news laws would en- able legal and legitimate activities involving ani- mals to continue.
The plan explained the main policy positions that will underpin Victoria’s new animal care and pro- tection laws.
• Activities in accord- ance with Victoria’s Tra- ditional Owner Settle- ment Act 2010 – if a Tra- ditional Owner group has a natural resource agree- ment under the Tradi- tional Owner Settlement Act, a member of that Traditional Owner group can carry out an agreed activity on land to which the agreement applies
The main aim of the new laws is to help pro- tect animals from cruelty while enabling Victorians to continue to interact re- sponsibly with animals.
At present, some activi- ties conducted in accord- ance with the require- ments of other Victorian legislation (such as the Meat Industry Act 1993, the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, and the Fisheries Act 1995) are provided an exemp- tion (as opposed to an exception) to the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Ani- mals Act.
Lawful activities such as hunting, fishing, farm- ing, racing and pest con- trol would be able to con- tinue.
• Veterinary treatment by a registered veterinary practitioner
Feedback on any con- cerns about the policy positions in the plan was sought.
• Activities permitted by the new laws (including in regulations and licences) when done in accordance with the new laws
This included where greater clarity may have been needed, or where unintended consequences were identified. Feedback will inform draft legislation
• The hunting of game and control or distur- bance of wildlife permit- ted under and done in ac- cordance with Victoria’s Wildlife Act 1975
These exemptions allow for the possibility that the POCTA Act does not ap- ply, even where cruelty has clearly occurred.
Feedback received will inform the development of an Exposure Draft of the legislation.
• The control of pest animals using a method authorised by and done in accordance with regula- tions made under Victo- ria’s Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994
The exemptions also create the incorrect per- ception that animal wel- fare laws are not relevant for activities such as farming, fishing, hunting and pest control.
Page 12 – National Poultry Newspaper, November 2022
If that Bill is passed,
www.poultrynews.com.au
It is planned to release the Exposure Draft in 2023 for another round of public feedback.
• Activities permitted under and done in ac- cordance with Victoria’s Fisheries Act 1995.
Visit engage.vic.gov. au/project/new-animal- welfare-act-victoria to follow the project and for the invitation to have your say in the next round of public feedback on the release of the Exposure Draft in 2023.
This will provide Vic- torians with a final say before a Bill is introduced into the Victorian Parlia- ment for consideration.
These exceptions would only apply where the ac- tivities complied with the