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Further implications
It is not surprising that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has become the first jurisdiction in this country to ban factory farming of both chickens and pigs. A 2012 study of food production in the ACT found that it had only six businesses with 84,246 chickens for egg production and no chickens were identified as being grown for meat. Most of the pig products consumed in the ACT also come from other states or overseas and the piggeries in the ACT (in common with those across the country) had already pledged to phase out sow stalls by 2018. This means there is not a significant farming sector within the ACT to be affected by the new legislation.
The Australian Capital Territory is also a relatively wealthy jurisdiction. Australian Bureau of statistics figures for 2012-13 show total factor incomes grew in the ACT by 4.5 percent compared to declines of .4 percent and .5 percent in Tasmanian and Western Australia respectively. The highest gross household disposable income per capita in Australia in 2012-13 was in the ACT. This means that those living in the ACT are going to be most able to absorb an increase in the cost of some foodstuffs as a result of the banning of factory farming.
Spokespeople for the agricultural industry have also claimed that all the law is likely to do is encourage food retailers to source even more of their food products from outside the Australian Capital Territory.
The chief executive of Australian Pork Limited, Andrew Spencer, has stated, 'The really unfortunate thing is that we'll be eating 70 per cent of the ham and bacon coming from overseas where they're still using these sow stalls and they have no intention of stopping using them.'
That particular consideration may well have implications Australia-wide. With free trade agreements signed with both China and the United States, one of the consequences of banning factory farming in Australia may be that consumers will simply purchase cheaper products imported from overseas where factory farming continues to be practised.
If factory farms are to be banned across Australia, it will be necessary to raise public awareness of the animal welfare issues associated with this type of farming so that those who can afford the more expensive product are prepared to do so.