Who do I contact to report an animal welfare issue with farm animals?

RSPCA Inspectors employed by RSPCA ACT, RSPCA New South Wales, RSPCA South Australia, RSPCA Tasmania and RSPCA Western Australia have legal jurisdiction over commercial farming activities in relation to animal welfare legislation within their respective states and territories. These RSPCA Inspectors will also work in conjunction with officers of the relevant government department, usually livestock and/or animal health inspectors. So, in these states and territories, contact the RSPCA using the details below.

RSPCA Queensland and RSPCA Victoria have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with their state governments, which limit the jurisdiction of RSPCA Inspectors with respect to ‘commercial livestock’.

In Queensland, the RSPCA focus their work on hobby farms and companion animals on the eastern seaboard and they do not usually investigate commercial farming-related matters, although they may assist Biosecurity Queensland.

In Victoria, the RSPCA also focuses its attention on companion animals and non-commercial livestock (e.g. horses and hobby farm animals). Where groups of livestock are in numbers greater than 10 (or poultry in numbers greater than 50), livestock matters are referred to Agriculture Victoria for investigation. So, in these states, contact the appropriate Queensland or Victoria Government Department (see below).

RSPCA Northern Territory does not have an Inspectorate so, in the Northern Territory, contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.