-
RSPCA Victoria praises draft Animal Care and Protection Act
January 3, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
(image: RSPCA Victoria)
“This draft new legislation has the potential to bring the most significant animal welfare progress Victoria has seen in decades,” Dr Liz Walker, RSPCA Victoria CEO, on the draft Animal Care and Protection Act.
Animal welfare organisations in Victoria are praising the draft Animal Care and Protection Act that was released for consultation recently.
The Victorian government is set to introduce the new legislation that promises significant changes and enhancements to animal welfare across the state.
If implemented, it will replace the existing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA Act), which has been in place for over 35 years.
Animal Care and Protection Act: what it means for animal welfare
The draft act includes the recognition of animal sentience, which means acknowledging that animals can feel, perceive their environment, and experience both positive and negative sensations.
The draft legislation, released for public consultation in mid-December, highlights key changes and improvements in animal welfare standards.
Dr Liz Walker, CEO of RSPCA Victoria, says the proposed legislation has the potential to revolutionise animal welfare in Victoria.
“This draft new legislation has the potential to bring the most significant animal welfare progress Victoria has seen in decades,” Dr Walker says.
“It’s fantastic to see this draft and in particular some of the proposed key changes RSPCA Victoria has been advocating for over many years.
“The current Act is more than 30 years old and has fallen out of step with more recent scientific understanding of good welfare as well as community expectations that have also evolved significantly over this time.
The draft act includes the recognition of animal sentience, which means acknowledging that animals can feel, perceive their environment, and experience both positive and negative sensations. This recognition is an important step in ensuring that animals are treated with compassion and respect.
Another significant change proposed in the draft is the introduction of minimum care requirements for animals. This would be the first time such requirements are set in Victorian law, ensuring that animals receive the necessary care and attention they deserve.
“With this new Act, the future of animal welfare in this state looks promising,” Dr Walker says.
“We look forward to reviewing the draft in detail and providing a considered response based on our Inspectors’ extensive experience in enforcing animal welfare laws.”
The draft legislation also proposes stronger animal cruelty laws, including higher penalties to address serious crimes. This includes the introduction of a new ‘intentional cruelty’ offence for severe cases of cruelty, which carries higher penalties.
→Read our article on the Victorian woman banned from owning dogs after animal cruelty charges.
Updating animal welfare laws: next steps
The development of the draft follows extensive public consultation. Including feedback from over 2,500 responses and engagement with more than 50 organisations across the agriculture and welfare fields.
It will take about two years for the new legislation to come into force, allowing time to develop supporting regulations. The government relies on further industry feedback, research, and consultation to develop these regulations.
The consultation on the draft Animal Care and Protection Bill will close on 8 March 2024.
The government is calling for public and stakeholder feedback on the proposals before the closing date.
→ Head to the Engage Victoria website to review the legislation and have your say.
RSPCA Victoria
RSPCA Victoria aims to contribute to its vision of ending cruelty to all animals by prioritising its advocacy efforts.
The organisation advocates for changes in policy and practice that improve the welfare of animals. This is done to ensure a promising future for animal welfare in Victoria.
→ Visit the RSPCA Victoria website to learn more about the organisation’s animal welfare and advocacy work.
READ MORE FROM ANIMAL FRIENDLY LIFE