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In Australia, Halter complies with all relevant laws and codes of practice in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Commercial use of virtual fencing is allowed in Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia; approved research trials are allowed in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
Halter is committed to advancing regulations supporting high quality virtual fencing products in Australia to protect animal welfare standards and enhance farm productivity. Halter is engaging with Australian state governments, regulators and industry representatives to share insights around how the Halter system works, research findings about how Halter protects animal welfare, and to share evidence of the many industry benefits of Halter’s system.
Tasmania - Halter complies with the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act 1993. As of early 2025, Halter is used by approximately 20% of Tasmania’s dairy herd - a sign of the rapid adoption in that state.
Other Australian states are modernising their laws relating to virtual fencing.
Victoria - In Victoria, research trials of virtual fencing are permitted and the state is reviewing its animal welfare legislation and will consider the commercial use of virtual fencing technology as part of this process. In 2024, Halter commenced a partnership with Australia’s premier dairy innovation facility at the Ellinbank SmartFarm. Ellinbank plays an important role in researching technologies that can benefit the industry, including virtual fencing for pasture-based farming.
Western Australia - In June 2022, Western Australia amended its animal welfare regulations to allow the commercial use of virtual fencing technology, provided that the device is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
New South Wales - In October 2024, a NSW Parliamentary Committee examined the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Virtual Stock Fencing) Bill 2024. This Parliamentary Committee produced a report recommending that NSW should legalise virtual fencing and herding. Farmers in NSW will be delighted by this report. They’ll be optimistic to soon be able to access this leading technology for their operation - like their peers in other states - to boost their productivity, to care for their animals and the environment, and to become more resilient against fires and floods.
While it’s encouraging that the report recommends permitting virtual fencing, unfortunately, there are several recommendations in the report that present significant challenges that will inhibit adoption of virtual fencing in NSW and could inadvertently lead to worse outcomes for animals.
That’s why Halter has put forward a second opinion as a response to this report - see link below. Halter evaluated the submissions provided to the Committee and the report’s recommendations. In our view, some of the views of submitters and some recommendations may lead to adverse outcomes for animals, inhibit adoption of virtual fencing or prove unworkable for established virtual fencing providers.
Click here to view Halter’s analysis of the Committee’s report to the NSW Government.
Proposed Code of Conduct for Virtual Fencing
A Halter white paper proposing a Code of Conduct for virtual fencing and virtual herding in Australia.
Halter has produced a white paper on developing a Code of Conduct for virtual fencing in Australia. This comes at a time when many state governments in Australia are considering developing regulations for virtual fencing, and in recognition of the growing demand from farmers to access virtual fencing technology. This paper seeks to ensure that positive animal welfare outcomes are achieved while avoiding potential regulatory pitfalls.
Developing regulations are the responsibility of state governments. This paper is Halter’s effort to assist politicians, regulators, and others across the farming industry through this process. We have drawn on our deep domain expertise in virtual fencing and animal welfare safeguards and on the findings from independent academic research we have funded to increase knowledge about virtual fencing. We have developed this after extensive engagement over the previous year with officials in several state governments in Australia on the topic of virtual fencing.
This Code of Conduct white paper is especially relevant to Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, where state governments are actively reviewing potential regulation of virtual fencing.
Click here to view Halter’s proposed Code of Conduct for Virtual Fencing.
