ANIMALS

Animals are living, feeling beings with inherent value, deserving of respect and care. Everyone shares a responsibility to protect animal rights and welfare, whether in the wild, in recreation, in farming or as companions, and to end the pain and suffering inflicted by human actions.

AIMS

The Greens (WA) want:

●       legally enforceable protections and rigorous welfare standards for all animals as living, feeling beings

●       comprehensive protection of native wildlife and restoration of their habitats (see also the Greens (WA) Biodiversity policy)

●       a transition to humane animal husbandry, slaughter and export practices (see also the Greens (WA) Agriculture policy)

●       humane and effective management of all animals involved in sport, recreation or entertainment.

●       humane ownership and management of all companion animals

●       strong consumer standards and truthful labelling to empower ethical choices and support high-welfare products

MEASURES

Greens (WA) will initiate and support legislation and actions that:

Protections

●       create an independent office of animal welfare

●       introduce a duty of care for animals by their owners

●       ratify national welfare standards and guidelines

●       provide public education supporting a cultural shift towards respect for animals, including reduction in language that reinforces negative attitudes towards them or uses animals as symbols of inferiority, stupidity, dirtiness or cruelty

●       implement positive welfare for nutrition, environment, health, behaviour and mental state for all animals

●       boost powers and resourcing for the inspection, detection and prosecution of individuals and businesses mistreating animals

●       ensure transparent and ethical regulatory oversight for all research using animals, with a ban on animal testing and experimentation which induces pain or distress, and fast-track the development and use of alternatives.

Wildlife

●       promote the intrinsic value of wildlife and the right of native species to live freely in their natural environment

●       protect, maintain and restore native ecosystems to preserve biodiversity to ensure the survival of native species

●       establish linked wildlife corridors as part of a landscape-scale approach to restoring biological connectivity

●       implement effective and humane management of introduced species to protect native ecosystems and native species.

Farming

●       prohibit inhumane farming practices that are inconsistent with animals' natural behavioural needs, such as battery hen cages and sow stalls

●       replace painful animal husbandry practices, such as mulesing and de-horning without pain relief, with humane alternatives

●       legislate enforceable standards of humane slaughter procedures to prevent suffering and trauma

●       end the live export of animals for slaughter, through a just transition

●       ensure all animal transport conforms to humane and enforceable standards

Recreation

●       outlaw the inhumane use or killing of animals for sport, recreation or entertainment

●       end commercial horse and greyhound racing, ensuring a just transition for workers

●       ban the use of whips on horses

●       end mandatory muzzling requirements for retired greyhounds

●       ban the use of animals in circuses and theme parks

●       ensure that zoos are focused on conservation and education and that all animals are kept in appropriately sized, species-appropriate enclosures

●       ensure that any necessary control of introduced species utilise considered, humane, best practice methods

Companion Animals

●       maintain an effective state-wide centralised database of companion cats and dogs, and provide registration support for cat and dog owners.

●       maintain compulsory sterilisation of all cats, and introduce compulsory sterilisation of dogs (with standard exemptions), subsidised for low income owners.

●       replace the sale of cats and dogs from puppy farms, pet shops and markets with adoptions from shelters and sales from approved breeders

●       support and assist animal shelters and rescue organisations to care for, rehabilitate and re-home animals

●       ban the intentional breeding of animals for characteristics that cause suffering

Consumption

●       end the killing or abuse of animals for unnecessary consumer goods, such as cosmetic, fur or trophies

●       support appropriate standards and certification schemes for free-range, organic, humane and cruelty-free production systems

●       strengthen labelling laws to mandate listing of all animal products and derivatives, testing on animals, and any ethical certification

●       introduce public education campaigns on the impacts of meats in diet and consumer choices on animal welfare and the environment

●       ban the importation and sale of ivory, shark fins and body parts of endangered and vulnerable species

 

Animals policy ratified by The Greens (WA) in June 2026

The Greens (WA) spokesperson for Animals is Jess Beckerling MLC

Photo supplied by Gary Beilby