The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Saleyards and Depots contain standards related to livestock handled through Australian Saleyards and Depots.
The Saleyards and Depots S&G were finalised by the Agriculture Ministers in 2018.
The Saleyards and Depots S&G were developed in consultation with state and territory governments, livestock industry organisations, animal welfare groups and the general public under the auspices of the Agriculture Ministers’ Forum.
The Saleyards and Depots S&G were drafted by a small writing group comprising government and industry representatives, supported by a widely representative reference group and managed by the Biosecurity Branch of the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources.
As part of the process for developing the Saleyards and Depots S&G, a Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was developed and endorsed by the Commonwealth Office of Best Practice Regulation. The Decision RIS assessed the proposed standards and incorporated public consultation feedback and changes agreed by the majority of the group responsible for guiding the development of the Saleyards and Depots S&G.
Consultation on the draft Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Saleyard and Depots ran for 90 days from September until December 2014.
Views were sought from interested parties about how the draft Saleyards and Depots S&G would help protect the welfare of livestock being handled at saleyards and depots. Also open for comment was the associated Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS), which aimed to demonstrate the need for the Saleyards and Depots S&G, and identified the key costs and benefits for livestock, producers, the government, and the wider community.
Stakeholders gave feedback before finalisation of the Saleyards and Depots S&G.
The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Saleyards and Depots have been agreed upon by State and Territory Governments and have been or are being regulated into law by most State and Territory governments.
The implementation dates (as of June 2023) for the Saleyards and Depots S&G by State and Territory are listed below:
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) agreed to not adopt the Saleyards and Depots S&G as a Code of Practice as there are currently no saleyards or depots in the ACT. The AWAC would review this decision should they need to in the future.
New South Wales (NSW)
NSW intends to adopt the Saleyards and Depots S&G into legislation subject to normal policy development processes.
Northern Territory (NT)
The new Livestock Biosecurity Act is envisioned to be implemented during 2025, including the full adoption and implementation of all S&G. The Saleyards and Depots S&G is already adopted as a COP and used to determine whether a duty or obligation under the Act has been complied with.
Queensland (QLD)
Queensland regulated the Saleyards and Depots S&G as a code of practice requirement under the Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2012 on 1 July 2021. A code of practice under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 is a mandatory code.
South Australia (SA)
SA intends to adopt the Saleyards and Depots S&G into legislation, subject to normal policy development processes.
Tasmania (TAS)
The Tasmanian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee has considered the Saleyards and Depots S&G and provided advice to the Minister on regulating the standards. These regulations are about to be developed.
Victoria (VIC)
Victoria intends to adopt the Saleyards and Depots S&G into legislation subject to normal policy development processes. In adopting the standards into regulation, Victoria will avoid duplication or lowering of existing animal welfare requirements. It is anticipated that national standards and guidelines agreed to by Victoria will be adopted through the new proposed Animal Welfare Act. This legislation is currently under development.
Western Australia (WA)
On 3 October 2020, the Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020 (Transport Regulations) came into effect in Western Australia. The Transport Regulations implement the standards set out in the Saleyards and Depots S&G to the extent they relate to sheep and cattle. Consideration will be given to introducing regulations that apply to the remaining classes of livestock following the completion of regulations implementing the Sheep and Cattle S&G. Western Australia has also adopted the Saleyards and Depots S&G as a COP under its Animal Welfare Act 2002. This means that, where a person has been charged with cruelty, compliance with the Saleyards and Depots S&G can be used as a defence to the charge and non-compliance must be taken into consideration by the court.
The state and territory governments are responsible for the regulation of animal welfare in Australia. Each state and territory has an Animal Welfare Act outlining their animal welfare legislation.