Crisis Response for Animal Welfare

Summary

​Australian livestock businesses have economic, legal and ethical motives to ensure the welfare of production animals in their care is maintained. However, in certain situations livestock businesses may suffer interruptions that could affect their ability to care for animals resulting in a crisis of animal welfare. 
The purpose of the Crisis Response for Animal Welfare (CRAW) project is to examine what happens when a business is unable to resolve an animal welfare crisis and external stakeholders are required to assist or take over control. It will examine the circumstances leading to the involvement of external stakeholders, their roles within the current arrangements and whether there is a need for these arrangements to be improved.
The project was commissioned by Animal Health Australia (AHA) on behalf of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) Livestock and Production Animals Working Group. Funding support was provided by the Australian Government, Meat and Livestock Australia, Dairy Australia and Australian Wool Innovation. AHA managed the project with input from a Steering Committee involving industry and government representatives.
In November 2013, the Australian Government withdrew funding for the AAWS Advisory Committee, raising issues about how the recommendations from this study will be taken forward. This matter will be addressed by the Steering Committee in association with AHA.