Draft Animal Care and Protection Bill – have your say – closes March 24.
An important opportunity for equine organisations and owners to have your input about new, proposed laws that will impact our industry.
Over the last weeks, the Australian Horse Industry Council have been working through the new proposed Animal Care and Welfare Laws (ACAWL) for Victoria. The AHIC sees these new proposed regulations as a litmus test for other states and territories. This is why it’s very important for your organisation, wherever you are based, to be across these proposals and give your input.
If the draft Bill is passed by the Victorian Parliament to become an Act, the new Animal Care and Protection Act would replace the current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (the POCTA Act).
The primary change from the previous Prevention of Cruelty Act (POCTA) is the recognition of sentience of animals. This shift in perception of welfare and cruelty has significant implications with our international trade partners where sentience is foremost in the management of production and companion animals in other countries.
The Board of the AHIC suggests if you or your membership organisation would like to respond please include with your submission any supporting evidence of the abilities of the organisation to self-regulate, especially to ensure good welfare oversight of the horses used in your particular organisation, activity, business or breed society.
Areas of focus could be:
Your Constitution or Rules with particular focus on any rules regarding bits, nose bands, spurs, whips and disciplinary response by your organisation.
Your Constitution or Rules regarding suitability, age, soundness and behaviour of horses used in your activity.
Any policies such as hot weather, lightening events, bad weather, poor or unsuitable surfaces for activities with horses.
Guidelines/accreditation protocols for your event officials, coaches, judges and any grading procedures for suitability of rider/horse combinations to attend events run by your organisation.
If cattle are used in your sport, the welfare guidelines you have in place to ensure the wellbeing of the cattle used.
The AHIC is writing a formal response to the proposal. If a formal response from your organisation or business is not possible by the closing date, we are giving member organisations the opportunity to become a co-signatory to the AHIC response which we will circulate before the 24th of March. If you are a member organisation please let us know when we send out our response, if you would like to add your support to the submission. A number of significant organisations have already indicated their interest in co-signing.
If you would like your organisation to become a member organisation and become a co-signatory you are very welcome. https://www.horsecouncil.org.au/membership-signup
And a reminder, that the AHIC has useful resource documents; the Horse Welfare Toolkit, the Horse Venue Biosecurity Workbook for members to use please contact us via the website www.horsecouncil.org