Given that animals play an important role in the lives of all Australians, the RSPCA strongly believes that we need a national government body to provide advice, governance and leadership on animal welfare issues. As a nation, Australia has one of the highest rates of companion animal ownership in the…
International trade has increased exponentially since the 1950s, including Australia’s imports and exports of animals and animal-derived products. The World Trade Organisation (the WTO) is responsible for overseeing the conduct of international trade, the development of international trade agreements, and the resolution of trade disputes. 153 countries are members of…
Animal welfare laws in Australia are governed at the state and territory level. As such, there are eight separate animal welfare statutes, all of which seek to prohibit animal cruelty and promote animal welfare within their respective jurisdictions. While the fundamental objectives of the different state and territory laws are…
Puppy farming is considered to be a major animal welfare issue in Australia. The RSPCA has dedicated considerable time and resources to investigating and developing strategies, in conjunction with key stakeholders, for how this practice may be brought to an end. Animal management and animal welfare laws must be amended…
Most farm animal welfare issues are the responsibility of State and Territory governments. If you are concerned about the way animals are reared, transported or slaughtered for food or fibre and you would like to see a change in government regulation and an improvement in animal welfare, one of the…
An “Ag-gag” law is the name given to legislation designed to curb the rise in animal activist monitoring and investigative activities within the livestock sector. Proposals to introduce such legislation first arose in the United States in the late 1990s. In the few US states where these laws have been…
Animal welfare laws in Australia are governed at the state and territory level and every jurisdiction has its own animal welfare Act. These animal welfare Acts may also call up or refer to industry-specific standards and guidelines or codes of practice, such as the Model Codes of Practice for the…
In 2004, the cosmetic tail docking of dogs was banned nationwide. This means that a veterinary surgeon must not dock a dog’s tail unless it is for a therapeutic purpose or in the dog’s best interests to do so. The relevant provisions are set out in the table below: The…
The RSPCA is opposed to the use of any electronically activated devices which deliver electric shocks (e.g., anti-barking collars, invisible boundaries) or other aversive stimuli (e.g., high-pitched sounds, citronella). Such devices involve punishment, and inflict pain, fear and discomfort. * Information current as of 19 December 2022. This information is…
Under regulation 4W of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (Cth), the importation into Australia of cat or dog fur is prohibited unless the importer is authorised by the Minister for Immigration and Boarder Protection. However, the use of cat or dog fur is not expressly banned within Australia. The…