Email The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP Minister for Planning | Mandatory Welfare Standards for Planning

Email The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP Minister for Planning

The conditions under which animals in intensively farmed settings are treated are not considered during planning assessment and with the absence of animal welfare scrutiny, animals suffer.

Use our email template to urge The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP Minister for Planning to make the assessment of known animal welfare standards, and their revisions, to be understood as a mandatory element of planning assessments and conditions.

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Dear Ms Kilkenny,

I am respectfully writing to you with a request for the assessment of known animal welfare standards and their revisions to be understood as a mandatory element of planning assessments and conditions. I have grave concerns about the conditions under which animals in intensively farmed settings are treated.

In particular, I am appalled that a recent planning application in the Golden Plains Shire (application P22022) drew 26 objections on the basis of animal welfare and human health concerns but that these objections were not followed up with an enquiry to Animal Welfare Victoria throughout the planning assessment stage, despite the imminent legislation of significantly improved standards for Poultry. Welfare risks were not assessed nor was departmental advice sought because there is currently no requirement to do so as a condition of planning assessment and approval.

This absence of animal welfare scrutiny has prompted me to make the following requests:
● Introduce mandates in town planning legislation that compel examination of the relevant Codes of Practice and Guidelines - for example, the Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry (Brooks, R. et. al, 2022).
● Provide objectors with an opportunity to ask questions of the relevant council prior to a notice of decision being made.
● Ensure that the conditions in a notice of decision refer specifically to animal welfare based standards that the applicant must adhere to, including guidance when changes to those standards are imminent.

I am urging your compassionate leadership and authority as the Minister for Planning by providing improved sureties to protect intensively farmed animals from unnecessary additional harm.

When standards are applied at the planning stage, we will have a system that values animal welfare and meets the ethical expectations of a modern society. We have an urgent need in Victoria for increased pre-emptive adherence to animal welfare standards and guidelines within planning legislation, and I urge your assistance to make this a reality at the earliest possible time.

I really look forward to hearing your feedback and thank you for the time taken to examine this issue.

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