The Queensland Parliament has passed amendments to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 for the first time in more than two decades.
Offenders will now face up to three years in prison if they breach their duty of care and cause the death, disablement or prolonged suffering of an animal.
The amendments also place a ban on the use of pronged collars and give animal welfare inspectors powers to intervene where an animal is found to be in distress.
Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner said changes follow extensive community consultation with over 2300 Queenslanders.
“Queenslanders want to see animals better protected and people who don’t comply punished appropriately, and that is exactly what these updated laws provide,” Mr Furner said.
“Being able to love and keep pets like dogs is an important part of many people’s lives and Queenslanders want those pets to have strong protections.”
Other amendments to the Bill include facilitating the ethical use of animals for scientific purposes while ensuring that animal welfare is not compromised; a requirement that dogs be secured while travelling on a tray of a vehicle, or a trailer attached to a vehicle; a ban on inhumane practices such as firing or blistering of horses and dogs; the means to prosecute those using CSSP Pig Poison; a new framework for cattle procedures accreditation schemes, including lay pregnancy testing; implementation of some recommendations of the Martin Inquiry into the treatment of racehorses; and implementation of some recommendations of the Queensland Audit Office to improve the appointment and training of inspectors and the governance of animal welfare investigations and prosecutions by the RSPCA Queensland.
