The Australian Alliance for Animals has today congratulated The Honourable Tara Moriarty MLC on her appointment as the new Minister for Agriculture in NSW following the successful election of the Minns Labor Government.
Alliance for Animals Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the animal welfare sector was looking forward to working with Minister Moriarty and the Minns Government on delivering long overdue animal welfare reforms for NSW.
"Animal welfare is such an important part of the Agriculture portfolio – the NSW community cares deeply about the way animals are treated and change is long overdue.
"Unfortunately, NSW holds the unenviable title of the puppy farming capital of Australia, and it has the most outdated animal welfare legislation in the country.
"Thankfully, NSW Labor has recognised this and has committed to bringing the state's animal welfare laws into line with community expectations.
"We're looking forward to working with Minister Moriarty on delivering NSW Labor's full suite of animal welfare policy commitments, which include:
- introducing a new animal welfare framework to replace the outdated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
- establishing an independent Office of Animal Welfare
- implementing the national Animal Welfare Standards for Poultry including a phase out of battery cages, and
- banning puppy farming
"We know the NSW community will welcome these policies, and we have the data to prove it.
National polling conducted by Roy Morgan Research in March 2022 found that:
- 98% of Australians consider animal welfare to be important
- 94% support laws that ensure animals are provided with a good quality of life
- 74% support the creation of an independent body to oversee animal welfare
- 85% support animal welfare laws reflecting community expectations and best-available science.
"It's time to make NSW a national leader in animal welfare again."
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