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 Animal Law in Australia

NEW! Australia Animal Protection Law Journal:

• Volume 3 of the Animal Protection Law Journal (2009).
• Volume 2 of the Animal Protection Law Journal (2009).
• Volume 1 of the Animal Protection Law Journal (2008).

1. A 2009 report by Voiceless of Australia - Animal Law Toolkit.

2. A (2006) paper by Siobhan O'Sullivan - Animal Research Policy, Public Perceptions, and the Problems of Transparency.

3. For an introduction to the structure of animal law in Australia see (2004) paper by Katrina Sharman.

For a summary of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1979  (New South Wales), click here.  The associated regulations including Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation 1996 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Animal Trades) Regulation 1996 are also available.

4. Table of Australia Cases

Significant cases from Australia:

• Animal Liberation Ltd v National Parks & Wildlife Service (New South Wales - injunction to stop aerial shooting of goats)
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats (Commonwealth of Australia - 'freedom of political communication')
• Australian Wool Innovation Ltd v Newkirk (Commonwealth of Australia - boycott of wool industry to protest mulesing)
• Humane Society International Inc v Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd (Commonwealth of Australia - injunction against whaling in Australian waters)
• Rural Export & Trading (WA) Pty Ltd v Hahnheuser (Commonwealth of Australia - feeding ham to sheep was violation of Trade Practices Act 1974)
• RSPCA v Stojcevski (South Australia - criminal liability for not providing veterinary care for dog)
• Yanner v Eaton (Commonwealth of Australia - Aboriginal hunting rights)

5. Table of Australia Laws

Sample of regional statutes.  

As in the US, most animal laws in Australia are at the state level. As a sample the following laws are provided from Queensland.

• Agricultural Standards Act of 1994 (As Amended Oct. 2002) (425KB .pdf)
• Agricultural Standards Regulations of 1997 (As amended Dec. 2003) (429KB .pdf)
• Animal Care and Protection Act of 2001 (As amended Nov. 2003) (676KB .pdf)
• Animal Care and Protection Regulation of 2002 (As amended Mar. 2003) (385 .pdf)
• Nature Conservation Act of 1992 (As amended April 2004) (742 .pdf)