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 permitted and has been widely adopted in Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia. In other states in Australia – namely in NSW, Victoria and South Australia – virtual fencing of cattle has historically been prohibited because of outdated legislation. However, in 2025 there has been a clear trend of announcements from these state governments announcing changes to regulations to embrace virtual fencing as soon as possible. NSW, Victoria, and South Australia are states with significant dairy and beef industries. Halter is excited by the demand from farmers in these states, and so we are now gearing up to support farmers in these states as soon as the new regulations allow.
Halter is committed to advancing regulations supporting high quality virtual fencing products in Australia to increase farm productivity and to protect animal welfare. 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 and improves 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 mid-2025, Halter is used by approximately 25% of Tasmania’s dairy herd.
Other Australian states are modernising their laws to permit virtual fencing.
Victoria - In May 2025, Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced that new regulations will be prepared to make virtual fencing and herding technology for cattle permissible in Victoria. Further engagement will occur with relevant stakeholders, including animal welfare groups with the regulations to be finalised by the end of the year. For more details, please see this Press Release from the government.
New South Wales - In April 2025, Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty announced that new regulations will be prepared to make virtual fencing technology for cattle permissible in New South Wales. The government will run a consultation process on new regulations and intend on making this technology permissible as soon as possible.
South Australia - In February 2025, the South Australian Government passed legislation to soon allow virtual fencing technology. It is now developing regulations to allow farmers to access this technology within 12 months.
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.
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 now developing regulations to permit 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 developing regulation for virtual fencing.
Click here to view Halter’s proposed Code of Conduct for Virtual Fencing.
