Each position below is sourced exclusively from the party's own
published materials — never from media coverage. Click a party for its full platform, donors and
members. Individual members' own stated positions are on their record pages.
The 2023 ALP National Platform includes a dedicated policy section titled "Humane animal welfare" among its platform chapters, as did the 2021 platform.
The platform states animals are sentient beings deserving care and respect, and commits to ending live animal export, phasing out intensive farming practices inconsistent with animals' behavioural needs, and establishing an Independent Office of Animal Welfare with a uniform national legislative framework for animal protection.
The party supports the live sheep export trade and opposes the federal government's ban on live sheep exports, stating the ban threatens thousands of jobs and hundreds of farms.
The party's plan states Australia has the world's best animal welfare standards and commits that a Coalition government's first Agriculture Bill will reverse the ban on live sheep exports by sea and protect the live cattle trade, arguing that exiting the live export market is counterproductive because other countries do not maintain the same standards.
The party opposes the exploitation of animals through farming and slaughter for meat, dairy, eggs, fibre and fur and supports phasing out animal agriculture toward plant-based and cellular agriculture; interim measures include rapidly phasing out and banning factory farming (including aquaculture), mandatory independently monitored CCTV in factory farms and slaughterhouses, banning live animal export, phasing out farm animal mutilations, and ending subsidies for animal agriculture.
The platform states that animal welfare policy in NSW has become distorted by animal rights ideology and that compliance for animal welfare issues should be returned to accountable government authorities. It states the greyhound racing industry provides economic benefits to regional communities and expresses support for measures to sustain its long-term viability.
The party's live animal exports policy states it is not opposed to live exports only if humane treatment of animals in transit and in the receiving country can be guaranteed; since policing treatment in other countries is unlikely, it prefers to "err on the side of the animal" and proposes that animal products for export be processed in Australia under humane conditions and exported as finished products.
Recorded divisions on animal welfare · 9
Every recorded vote on a bill filed under this issue, in each parliament the site holds a division record for — second and third readings, plus any amendment listed with a reason. How each member voted is on their record.
- Greyhound Racing Legislation Amendments (Phasing Out Reform) Bill 2025Ends greyhound racing in Tasmania on 30 June 2029. Until then it bans breeding racing greyhounds, deems a greyhound retired at six or after a year without racing, needs Tasracing's consent to transfer or destroy one, and has the Racing Integrity Commissioner prepare a closure plan. After that date, racing greyhounds, or keeping or breeding a dog for racing, becomes an offence under the Animal Welfare Act; greyhounds can still be kept as pets.Second reading · Tasmania · House of Assembly · It was resolved in the Affirmative. 22–114 Dec 2025 ↗
- Greyhound Racing Legislation Amendments (Phasing Out Reform) Bill 2025Ends greyhound racing in Tasmania on 30 June 2029. Until then it bans breeding racing greyhounds, deems a greyhound retired at six or after a year without racing, needs Tasracing's consent to transfer or destroy one, and has the Racing Integrity Commissioner prepare a closure plan. After that date, racing greyhounds, or keeping or breeding a dog for racing, becomes an offence under the Animal Welfare Act; greyhounds can still be kept as pets.Third reading · Tasmania · House of Assembly · It was resolved in the Affirmative. 22–114 Dec 2025 ↗
- Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Repeal Bill 2025A private member's bill from Joe McGirr (independent, Wagga Wagga) that would repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which recognises the heritage value of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park, keeping the current management plan under the National Parks and Wildlife Act until a transition date.Third reading · New South Wales · Legislative Council · Motion agreed to. 19–727 Nov 2025 ↗
- Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Repeal Bill 2025A private member's bill from Joe McGirr (independent, Wagga Wagga) that would repeal the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018, which recognises the heritage value of wild horses in Kosciuszko National Park, keeping the current management plan under the National Parks and Wildlife Act until a transition date.Second reading · New South Wales · Legislative Council · Motion agreed to. 24–919 Nov 2025 ↗
- Domestic Animals Amendment (Rehoming Cats and Dogs and Other Matters) Bill 2025Creates a voluntary State authorisation scheme for pet rehoming organisations. Authorised groups must meet requirements such as reporting what happens to the animals, and can foster cats and dogs for up to 12 months without council registration and hold adoption days in pet shops. The existing Foster Care Scheme is replaced.Third reading · Victoria · Legislative Council · Question agreed to. 36–116 Oct 2025 ↗
- Motion on transparency in Greyhound Racing Victoria's recordsCalled on the Government to have Greyhound Racing Victoria's annual report count deaths within 10 days of a race or trial injury as racing fatalities, give the reason for every euthanasia including off-track, break down rehoming outside its adoption program, and report positive tests by substance, and to consider measures to reduce the use of prohibited substances.TRANSPARENCY IN GREYHOUND RACING VICTORIA’S RECORDS · Motion · Victoria · Legislative Council · Question agreed to. 23–1416 Oct 2024 ↗
- Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Independent Office of Animal Welfare) Bill 2023A private member's bill from Abigail Boyd (Greens) that would establish an Independent Office of Animal Welfare to take over regulation and oversight of animal welfare in NSW from the Department of Primary Industries.Second reading · New South Wales · Legislative Council · Motion negatived. 6–2814 Aug 2024 ↗
- Motion on wildlife rescueNoted that wildlife rescue is a largely volunteer-led emergency service whose rescues had risen 40 per cent without extra funding, and called on the Government to investigate reimbursing commonly used self-funded medicines, assess trialling paid full-time wildlife rescuer positions, and hold a roundtable on better supporting wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.WILDLIFE RESCUE · Motion · Victoria · Legislative Council · Question agreed to. 22–1320 Mar 2024 ↗
- Animal Research Amendment (Prohibition of Forced Swim Tests and Forced Smoke Inhalation Experiments) Bill 2023A private member's bill from Emma Hurst (Animal Justice Party) that amends the Animal Research Act 1985 so that no animal research authority may authorise a forced swim test or a forced smoke inhalation experiment, including with e-cigarette vapour.Second reading · New South Wales · Legislative Council · Motion agreed to. 22–137 Feb 2024 ↗