Building a Fair Go for Animals

A new independent economic analysis has found that establishing a National Animal Welfare Commission would not only improve Australia's animal welfare system but also save governments millions of dollars. 

Australians care deeply about protecting animals from cruelty and unnecessary suffering — but is our animal welfare system delivering the protections people expect? New national research reveals a growing gap between public expectations and the reality of Australia’s current animal welfare laws and governance system.

The Australian Alliance for Animals has welcomed the introduction of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Bill 2026, while expressing disappointment that the reforms fall well short of the NSW Government’s commitment.

Animal welfare groups are calling on the Victorian Government to urgently introduce long-promised reforms to the state’s outdated animal welfare laws. With legislation now facing further delays, advocates warn that animals remain at risk under a system that no longer reflects modern science or community expectations.

Redesigning Australia’s animal welfare governance system is an ambitious goal, but not impossible. Since launching the Fair Go for Animals campaign in 2022, we have made significant progress toward a framework that truly works for animals and the community.

Australia’s horse racing industry is riddled with systemic animal welfare issues. By reforming the system, we can better protect horses and provide them with the life-long care they deserve.

Disturbing cruelty uncovered at a South Australian piggery shows why Australia urgently needs independent oversight, stronger enforcement, and fair animal welfare standards.

Australia is falling behind in banning battery cages, with millions of hens still confined despite public support and new national standards. Only two states have acted, revealing a gap between community values, science, and government action.

Australia’s animal welfare system is broken and animals across the country are suffering as a result. But together, we have the power to fix it. The 10th March is Fair Go for Animals Day, a national call to action, urging Australians to stand up for animals by demanding a fairer and more independent animal welfare system.

In Australia, the animal welfare system is falling short, leaving millions of animals vulnerable to suffering. Political advocacy provides a critical pathway to addressing the systemic shortcomings, enabling us to create meaningful and lasting change for animals.

Live lamb cutting highlights the flaws in Australia’s animal welfare system. Explore how systemic failures enable cruelty and how we can reforms the system.

The current process for reviewing and developing national standards for animal welfare in Australia is heavily dominated by industry interests, fails to consider contemporary science and community expectations, and lacks legislative accountability. Reforming this process would make the standards development process more inclusive, science-based, and accountable.

Australia’s Animal Welfare Acts need guiding principles to inform the application of the legislation, improve decision making, and ensure animals are protected, respected, and given the care they deserve.

Within the current system, multiple agencies are responsible for different aspects of animal welfare enforcement, leading to inconsistent outcomes and protections for animals. The establishment of independent state Animal Welfare Authorities can change this. 

Within the current system, multiple agencies are responsible for different aspects of animal welfare enforcement, leading to inconsistent outcomes and protections for animals. The establishment of independent state Animal Welfare Authorities can change this. 

Every year in Australia, over 10 million lambs are subjected to a painful surgical procedure called live lamb cutting, traditionally known as mulesing. The continued use of this cruel practice, despite the availability of an ethical alternative, highlights the failures within Australia’s animal welfare system.

Australia's animal welfare system lacks national leadership, leading to significant inconsistencies in levels of protection across states. Creating a National Animal Welfare Commission as an independent statutory agency will introduce a structured and consistent approach to animal welfare while giving animals the independent representation they need and deserve.

Despite Australians caring deeply about animal welfare, our existing governance system treats it as a low-priority issue – and it's time for this to change. In this article, we discuss how establishing Ministers for Animal Welfare will significantly elevate the profile of animal welfare within our government, helping to create a fairer system.

This article explains how Australia’s animal welfare governance system is failing animals and introduces a viable solution for a fair and independent system.

The Building a fairer Australia for animals report outlines the framework for creating a fair and independent animal welfare governance system in Australia. It explains the calls behind the #FairGoForAnimals campaign. It explains the fundamental problems within our current governance system and provides a clear path forward.

The Australian Alliance for Animals is today releasing the results of a ground-breaking new study exploring community expectations about how the nation’s animal welfare policies are set and governed.

Distressing footage of the gas stunning of pigs aired on ABC TV 7.30 tonight highlights the urgent need to fix Australia’s broken animal welfare standards system.

The Alliance for Animals has launched the #FairGoForAnimals campaign. The campaign aims to reform Australia’s broken animal welfare system and build a fairer Australia for all animals.

Australia needs a national animal welfare commission to create better animal welfare policy