• Media Releases

Home : Current Issues

Current Issues

The Animal Welfare Act 1985

Amendments to the State's animal welfare legislation take effect on October 4, 2008, World Animal Day.

The State Government has made aggravated animal cruelty an indictable offence and a new offence has been created for keeping animals in conditions likely to cause pain, distress or disease.

Under new laws, animal welfare inspectors are empowered to routinely inspect intensive farming establishments, puppy farms, circuses and council operated dog pounds. Inspectors will have the power to enter a property to rescue an animal even if the owner is not present.

Courts will be empowered to order confiscation of objects used in an offence and owners will be forced to forfeit mistreated animals without a conviction having to be sought through a court.

Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill said the State Government was injecting more money into protecting animals from cruelty. The State Government has increased the annual grant to the RSPCA from $500,000 in 2006/07 to $580,000 in 2007/08. This grant will be increased to $660,000 in 2008/09 to assist in covering the additional costs incurred by the RSPCA in its enforcement and compliance activities associated with the new provisions.

Increased penalties include:

• A new offence of aggravated animal cruelty carrying a maximum $50,000 fine or 4 years jail;
• Ill treating an animal - doubled to a maximum $20,000 fine or 2 years jail;
• Organised animal fights - doubled to a maximum $20,000 fine or 2 years jail (the criteria has also been widened to encompass animals kept for fighting purposes);
• Hindering an inspector - four fold increase to a maximum $5,000 fine;
• New offence of deliberate false or misleading statements carrying maximum $10,000 fine or 2 years jail.