The commitment of Australian circuses to Animal Welfare standards can be seen in their compliance with the country’s range of legislation and codes of conduct. These standards have been in place for decades and continue to be amended to ensure that exhibited animals are entirely taken care of in contemporary society.

Significant documents regarding animal welfare throughout Australia include;

• South Australian Animal Welfare Codes of Practice
• Code of Practice for the Public Display of Exhibition of Animals (Victoria)
• Queensland Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Circuses
• Code of Practice for the Conduct of Circuses in Western Australia
• Northern Territory Animal Welfare Act (in force 12^th of April, 2017)
• Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 (NSW)

Compliance with these codes and legislation (along with the vast amount of documentation not listed here) ensure that animal welfare is kept to an excessively high standard.

The eagerness of circuses to endorse these codes will ensure that animals can live happily under the big top for many years to come. The CFA fully supports all Australian circuses which comply with animal welfare codes of conduct and legislation.

Originally written by Michael Scibilia,  modified by Michael Riley – May 2018