New animal welfare regulations for WA

New regulations will bring into effect modern and nationallyagreed animal welfare rules for transporting livestock in Western Australia.

Introduction of the Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020 follows broad consultation by the State Government with the Western Australian community and industry.

The regulations implement the standards set out in two Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, to ensure the welfare of sheep and cattle during land transport, and at saleyards and depots.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will work with industry stakeholders to promote awareness of the new regulations and understanding of any changes under them.

In addition, the Australian Animal

Welfare Standards and Guidelines for

Cattle have been adopted as a Code of

Practice, which covers the use of pain road users at risk by working 16 hours a day six days a week, for example.”

Sharing the roads

Dr Walker says better driver awareness and education is needed, alongside infrastructure improvements, to reduce the road toll related to truck accidents.

“It’s so easy to pull in front of a truck on a motorway and not understand that there's over 60 tonnes of goods and that the driver cannot stop quickly,” he says. “The driver relief when dehorning adult cattle.

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said, “The McGowan Government amended the Animal Welfare Act 2002 in late 2018 to allow Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines to be implemented in Western Australia for the first time.

“The national standards have been endorsed by all States and Territories, some dating back to 2012.

“Implementing the transport standards now brings WA into line with other States and Territories, while we are among the first to implement the standards for saleyards and depots.

“Clearly most farmers and transporters provide excellent care for their animals, but we need the ability to take action if this does not occur.

“It is in the interest of all livestock producers to have clear and transparent standards in place. For more information visit www.agric.

wa.gov.au/animalwelfare needs a couple hundred metres to stop. So you can't pull in front of it.”

Editor’s Note: Over the next 10 years, the Federal Government has promised to spend $110 billion on improving infrastructure to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads and this article does not address the different culture between the east and west coast of Australia nor late payments. I would be interested to hear WA operator’s thoughts on this story. An investigation by the Department of Transport (DoT) has uncovered fake Singaporean licences have been used to illegally obtain Western Australian driver's licences.

A tip off from the public led to an investigation by DoT who, with the assistance of the Singapore High Commission and Singaporean Police, detected 173 fake licences had been used in WA.

As a result of the detection, 122 of the WA driver's licences obtained falsely have been cancelled. The remaining 51 licence holders are no longer in Western Australia or further follow up into their whereabouts is underway.

The investigation commenced in January this year and examined licences used between 2015 and 2020.

Western Australian authorities advised their Eastern States counterparts of the scam which has led to interstate cooperation and some States launching their own investigations.

The names of those involved have been provided to WA Police and the Federal Department of Home Affairs.

Anyone can report suspicious activity to the Department of Transport's Alert Us line on 1300 040 456.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, "This is a concerning scam because people have deliberately acted to avoid demonstrating the required standards necessary to obtain a WA driver's licence.

“All drivers deserve to feel safe on our roads and can be assured fraudulent or suspicious driver and vehicle licensing matters are being identified and dealt with by DoT.