The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party is not a party of animal cruelty — we abhor it. We believe animals should be treated humanely and that genuine animal welfare must be based on practical outcomes, sound science and responsible management, not ideology.

 

There is a significant difference between animal welfare and animal rights. While we are proudly a party that represents hunters, hunting is about responsible and humane harvesting, not cruelty. Hunters strive to make every shot as effective as possible, because a wounded animal is the last thing any responsible hunter wants. The same principle applies across farming, animal husbandry, fishing and other activities where responsible management is sometimes misrepresented as cruelty.

 

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will always defend legitimate, evidence-based animal welfare while opposing the ideology of the animal rights lobby when it seeks to restrict lawful activities without regard for practical outcomes. We believe animal welfare should be about reducing suffering, responsible management and humane treatment — not ideology or political theatre.

 

• We will continue to fight the animal rights agenda in Parliament

• We will also support and work with genuine animal welfare organisations

• Reduce overburdening regulations and restrictions on legitimate animal breeders.

• Ensure any refresh of POCTA laws supports legitimate animal welfare based on science and not the radical animal rights agenda.

• Remove RSPCA’s inspectorate powers, hand enforcement back to the state and revoke its taxpayer funding.

• Oppose the illogical “trap-neuter-release” policy for feral animals

• Continue support for no-kill shelters and expanded adoptions.

• Initiate an inquiry into the animal rescue sector.

• Revoke all taxpayer funding to Wildlife Victoria and any other animal “rescue” group that advocates for radical anti-hunting policies.