VFF launches campaigns against Vic animal welfare Bill

The Victorian Farmers Federation has lashed out at the Victorian Government’s proposed Animal Care and Protection draft Bill, warning that its "vague, subjective and ambiguous language” could allow the Government to “abuse this power.. for short term political goals.”

VFF Vice-President Danyel Cucinotta said three key sections of the draft may result in unnecessary and unfair risks for farmers and called on members to unite in their response to the new laws.

The VFF’s concerns are;

• The establishment of discretionary powers to create a licencing and compliance regime. The VFF proposed the Government must not have the power to create licences whenever it sees fit, and any licences should be defined in the legislation

• The use of vague, subjective and ambiguous language to define animal care requirements. The VFF warned that it could encourage animal activists to mount unnecessary legal challenges against the government and farmers. It called for care requirements set out in the specific regulations with guidelines for different animals

• The draft Bill creates new offences targeting farm businesses that operate in intensive animal environments, or those which transport or show animals. The VFF maintained that these offences are not necessary as general care and protection requirements are already provided in the rest of the Bill

“The government wants to give itself discretionary powers to create licencing and compliance regimes. We know that if governments get the chance, they will abuse this power and crackdown on necessary on-farm practices for short term political goals,” Ms Cucinotta said.

“We have seen governments take knee-jerk reactions in the past such as the Gillard Government’s overnight closure of the live cattle trade to Indonesia. We can’t let the government have the power to create licenses and shut down farming businesses whenever it feels.”

“The creation of any licences should be detailed in the legislation and be the decision of the parliament, not the executive government.” 

Ms Cucinotta stressed the regulations must be based on scientific evidence.

“We need science-based animal welfare laws that give farmers the tools we need to maintain the best possible health and welfare of our animals and ensure can still produce the food and fibre that feed people.” 

“It’s important that Victorian farmers are united in our response to these new laws to ensure they represent a balanced outcome,” Ms Cucinotta said.

The VFF has created a submission template that needs to be sent to the government by 25 March 2024.