Announcement date
16 September 2022
Link to announcement
https://daf.engagementhub.com.au/horse-land-transport
Problem being addressed
Horse welfare issues during transport were brought to the attention of regulators, stakeholders and the community after the ABC’s 7.30 program ‘The Final Race’ aired in October 2019. Footage of horses, including retired thoroughbred and standard bred horses, treatment at a Queensland abattoir raised serious questions about the welfare and management of horses, including their transport across Australia. These incidents often relate to horses that have been transported loose in the back of a truck or trailer, and as a result, have sustained serious injuries or are dead at the time of unloading. Other horses arrive in poor condition. Problems including traumatic injuries, transport-related diarrhoea, heat stroke, muscular problems, colic, pneumonia and laminitis are also evidenced by data on animal welfare incidents involving horses in professional and amateur racing, equestrian sport, endurance racing, horse breeding and recreational non-competitive sectors. Risks to horses during transport have also been identified by experienced Australian equine veterinarians. Current regulatory requirements do not fully align with current science.
Proposal
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, on behalf of the national Animal Welfare Task Group, has prepared a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to explain the current regulatory framework and the potential issues that may be arising from it. The Consultation RIS also proposes potential reform options which may help to address these issues. These options include:
The status quo.
- This option would result in the current standards and guidelines being maintained without any change or intervention by governments, including without any additional education or engagement.
Enhance the existing non-mandatory guidelines (non-regulatory approach).
- This option would result in the current standards being retained with the addition of new/revised non-mandatory guidelines. Education and promotion of the guidelines by government would complement this option.
Revised mandatory standards, and non-mandatory guidelines (regulatory approach)
- This option would involve the adoption of a package of amendments to the current standards and guidelines through amendments to state and territory animal welfare legislation. Education and promotion of the standards and guidelines by government would complement this option.
Submissions to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regarding the Consultation RIS closed on 28/10/2022.
Assessed RIS outcome
Compliant consultation RIS