The Prime Minister by media release today announced on cost grounds the abolition of the Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, a non – statutory body which amongst other things advised the federal minister and department of agriculture and the Standing Council on Primary Industries ( federal and state agricultural ministers) on animal welfare matters.  In its previous incarnation ( prior to October 2011) as the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare, it served to advise the federal minister for agriculture as the responsible minister federally on animal welfare matters, doing so from its establishment in 1987.This announcement comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement by the federal minister for agriculture , Mr.Barnaby Joyce, that he would not proceed with the previous government’s proposal and appoint an Inspector –General of Animal Welfare for the live export trade on the ground that it was desired to cut red tape.