Proposed changes to animal welfare laws

Changes to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (ACAP) have been introduced to Parliament in a move to bring animal welfare legislation in line with “contemporary standards”.

The change would permit producers as “non-veterinarians” to train under an accreditation program to pregnancy test and spay cattle using the Willis dropped-ovary technique.

Supporters of the proposed amendment believe it will increase access to services for producers in remote areas. However, peak veterinarian bodies argue that lay-pregnancy testers will undercut rural vets who depend on the revenue generated from regularly pregnancy testing cattle and lead to inaccurate pregnancy diagnosis.

Other proposed changes of note to the law include:

• banning the use and possession of pronged dog collars;
• banning the use of yellow phosphorous pig poison; and
• a requirement for dogs to be secured on a vehicle except where the dogs are being transported to muster livestock.

Violation of these provisions will incur penalties of fines between $4,135 – $8,272 if the Bill is passed.

Public hearings took place in June, and the report is available here.

Thynne + Macartney will continue to monitor changes to ACAP and keep landholders updated.

This information is intended to provide a general summary only and should not be relied on as a substitute for legal advice.

About the Author

Phoebe Wright

Lawyer – Agribusiness