ANIMAL welfare is critically important but, after reading the Plan for Victoria’s new animal care and protection laws, I am terrified that this is a complete power grab – being pushed through quickly and quietly, before anyone has a chance to stop it. Rarely, in my opinion, have I ever seen such a blatant and over-riding plan put forward to control animal farming.

“It would be an offence for a person who owns or is in charge of an animal to not ensure the care requirements are provided. Unreasonable harm, pain or distress of the animals would not need to occur before authorities could intervene.” – page 34, Plan for Victoria’s new animal care and protection laws (pdf version) or page 22 (Word document).