The Northern Beaches Council became the 7th NSW council to become Fur Free at its May 2026 meeting.
Introduced as a motion by Councillor Hrnjak and Councillor Giltinan, a ban on fur was achieved through collaboration between the Northern Beaches Animal Justice Party regional group, FOUR PAWS Australia, Councillors and Constituents.
The sale of animal fur products will now be prohibited on council-owned land and at council-managed events. The Northern Beaches Council joins the City of Sydney, Inner West, Liverpool, City of Newcastle, Canterbury-Bankstown and Blue Mountains Councils in adopting fur-free policies.
The decision reflects growing international opposition to fur production, with more than 30 countries moving to ban or phase out fur farming and more than 1,600 fashion brands committing to fur-free practices.
Susan Sorensen from the local Animal Justice Party Regional Group stated: “there is no such thing as ethical fur,” citing concerns about the treatment of animals in fur farms, where animals are often confined to small wire cages and subjected to significant physical and psychological suffering.
According to animal welfare advocates, approximately 95 per cent of fur sold globally originates from factory farms, where millions of animals are held in confinement and killed using methods designed to preserve fur quality above animal welfare.
Councillor Hrnjak and Councillor Giltinan, in the details of their Motion, stated
'Despite fur-farming being banned in Australia, NSW and federal laws continue to support this cruel industry by allowing animal fur, including that from bears, seals, foxes, rabbits and racoons, to be imported and sold within our state.
Fur has lost its social licence and 30+ countries have now banned or phased out fur farming. Over 1,600 global brands and retailers now have formal fur-free policies. A 2024 YouGov poll found that only 14% of Australians support the trade and sale of fur products which have long been seen as cruel, outdated and unnecessary.
Allowing fur to continue to be sold on Council land and at Council-managed events no longer reflects community values. '
There being an equal number of votes the Mayor used her casting vote for the motion which was declared Carried.
Louise Ward from ‘FOUR PAWS thanked Northern Beaches Council for their leadership in passing this motion.
'By taking this step, Council has played a direct role in ending the fur trade sending a clear signal that cruelty has no place in our community and that Australians have moved on from fur.’
The decision follows previous animal welfare and environmental initiatives passed by the council, including the reduction of single-use plastics, backing a shark net ban, ceasing the use of SGARs, banning the use of 1080 poison and adopting the NSW Keeping Cats Safe at Home program.
Ms Sorensen stated the NSW and Federal Government will now be called upon by council to introduce a nationwide ban on the retail sale and importation of fur products, to represent the majority of Australians who want to see an end to the cruel trade and sale of fur.
Susan Sorenson with an orphaned joey