As Australia heads to the Federal Election on 3 May, Animal Medicines Australia (AMA) is calling on the next government to commit to animal health by implementing important opportunities that support Australia’s veterinarians, farmers and pet owners.
These opportunities are critical for improving animal health and welfare in livestock and companion animals, ensuring the production of healthy, safe food and fibre, addressing biosecurity and zoonotic threats and meeting Australia’s climate and emissions reduction targets.
The animal health industry has a significant role in protecting Australia’s biosecurity.
AMA’s Election Priorities advocate for funding to develop and implement a coordinated approach to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness. This approach would bring together governments, academia, and industry stakeholders, as well as expand Australia’s comprehensive human health AMR surveillance program (AURA) to include animal health. These initiatives are essential to securing Australia’s food supply chain and strengthening Australia’s veterinary and biosecurity workforce.
AMA Executive Director Mr. Ben Stapley said, “Veterinary medicines, including vaccines, are critical in responding to biosecurity outbreaks. These tools help manage risks and limit the spread of disease, ensuring Australia’s agricultural industries remain robust and resilient.
“AMA is calling on the next government to ensure Australia’s unique natural ecosystems and agricultural industries are protected.”
Creating incentives for investment in animal medicines is imperative to maintaining a robust and innovative animal health industry. AMA advocates for a re-commitment to best practice regulation in animal health to protect regulatory rigour, including in monitoring and compliance activities, manufacturing licensing, labelling and pharmacovigilance. AMA is seeking $8 million over 5 years for APVMA post-market monitoring, compliance and enforcement activities.
AMA calls on the next government to Invest $8 million over five years towards establishing a coordinating committee comprising government, industry and community representatives to develop and implement a National Companion Animal Policy, as well as an investment of $5 million towards supporting the establishment and recognition of new qualifications, training programs and accreditation frameworks that directly contribute to improved pet health and welfare. A national approach supports consistent animal welfare standards, responsible pet ownership education, and improved access to veterinary care, ensuring pets receive appropriate treatment regardless of location.
AMA is also calling for incentives to support veterinary work in regional and rural Australia. These proposals form part of a broader strategy to strengthen the veterinary workforce and ensure the delivery of high-quality animal health services in these areas.
“The food supply chain is a major employer across regional, rural, and remote Australia, encompassing a highly diverse range of industries, locations, and workforce requirements. Protecting and improving the health of animals, people, and our communities is central to the veterinary profession and the animal health industry more broadly. It is more important than ever for governments to recognise and support this critical role,” said Mr. Stapley.
AMA’s Election Priorities are:
- Creating incentives for investment in animal medicines
- Re-commitment to best practice regulation in animal health to protect regulatory rigour, including in monitoring and compliance activities, manufacturing licensing, labelling and pharmacovigilance.
- Establish a National Working Group to deliver national harmonisation of control of use for animal medicines.
- Increase data protection for veterinary medicines to at least equal those given to agricultural chemicals to provide incentives for innovation.
- $8 million over 5 years for APVMA post-market monitoring, compliance and enforcement activities.
- Funding public and community benefits of better animal health and welfare
- $9.5 million per year to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment to provide financial support for veterinary medicine students undertaking practical work placements in rural and regional areas and $5.76 million per year for a Rural Bonding Scheme to forgive HECS-HELP debt to encourage early career veterinarians to practice in rural and regional areas.
- Invest $10 million towards developing and implementing a pilot program for the provision of support and veterinary services for vulnerable people and their pets.
- Increase investment in emergency preparedness and response by at least $250 million per annum.
- Develop and implement a mechanism that allows for consistent secure payment for veterinary services delivered in natural disasters and to unowned animals, including wildlife.
- Supporting livestock sector to respond to challenges from climate change, biosecurity and pandemic preparedness
- Fund Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) to conduct an independent review of the benefits of animal health for inclusion in carbon accounting systems.
- Invest $6 million per annum for 3 years towards developing and implementing a coordinated approach to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness by bringing together governments, academia and relevant industries.
- Invest $11 million per annum towards expanding Australia’s comprehensive human health AMR surveillance program (AURA) to include animal health.
- Nationally consistent companion animal policies
- Invest $8 million over 5 years towards establishing a coordinating committee comprising government, industry and community representatives to develop and implement a National Companion Animal Policy.
- Invest $5 million towards supporting the establishment and recognition of new qualifications, training programs and accreditation frameworks that directly contribute to improved pet health and welfare.
AMA and its members have a long-standing commitment to an animal health industry that is responsible and sustainable. We look forward to continuing to work with government to improve outcomes across the livestock, equine and companion animal sector.
Click here to learn more about AMA’s 2025 Federal Election Priorities.