Review of the Animal Welfare Act

Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

Have your say on how the Animal Welfare Act meets your expectations in promoting the welfare of animals in South Australia.

What's being decided?

The South Australian Government is undertaking a review of the Animal Welfare Act and you are invited to share your perspectives on animal welfare, how the current laws are working and how they might be improved.

You don’t need to have specialist knowledge or interest in animals or animal welfare to provide your feedback and, while organisations are welcome to provide feedback, we are keen to hear from a wide range of community members.

Background

The Animal Welfare Act aims to promote the welfare of animals in South Australia.

The Act was last reviewed in 2007. The South Australian Government is committed to reviewing the Animal Welfare Act to ensure the laws governing animal treatment stay up to date with community expectations.

The Animal Welfare Act includes 5 parts:

  • preliminary information about the Act
  • the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
  • animal welfare offences
  • teaching and research involving animals
  • enforcement.

This first step in the review aims to gain community feedback to help understand expectations about animal welfare and identify opportunities for change that may improve the Act.

Get involved

An overview of the Act and its parts is provided in the consultation paper. This provides context to the review and also background to the survey questions.

Find out more by reading:

Have your say by:

  • taking our survey (click 'take survey' below)

Submissions close on Sunday 26 March 2023.

Please note that feedback should be provided through the survey. Submissions via email or by any other means will not be accepted. If you do not wish to respond to all questions in the survey, you can opt to provide a 'general comment' only.

Keep up to date by:

Signing up to receive updates on Animal Welfare Act review.

What are the next steps?

The Department for Environment and Water will analyse all community feedback and provide a report of the outcomes to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water.

This information will be used to identify reform opportunities for consideration by the Minister.

The next steps will depend on the outcomes of this initial consultation, resources and timeframes necessary to implement proposed reforms.

Have your say on how the Animal Welfare Act meets your expectations in promoting the welfare of animals in South Australia.

What's being decided?

The South Australian Government is undertaking a review of the Animal Welfare Act and you are invited to share your perspectives on animal welfare, how the current laws are working and how they might be improved.

You don’t need to have specialist knowledge or interest in animals or animal welfare to provide your feedback and, while organisations are welcome to provide feedback, we are keen to hear from a wide range of community members.

Background

The Animal Welfare Act aims to promote the welfare of animals in South Australia.

The Act was last reviewed in 2007. The South Australian Government is committed to reviewing the Animal Welfare Act to ensure the laws governing animal treatment stay up to date with community expectations.

The Animal Welfare Act includes 5 parts:

  • preliminary information about the Act
  • the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
  • animal welfare offences
  • teaching and research involving animals
  • enforcement.

This first step in the review aims to gain community feedback to help understand expectations about animal welfare and identify opportunities for change that may improve the Act.

Get involved

An overview of the Act and its parts is provided in the consultation paper. This provides context to the review and also background to the survey questions.

Find out more by reading:

Have your say by:

  • taking our survey (click 'take survey' below)

Submissions close on Sunday 26 March 2023.

Please note that feedback should be provided through the survey. Submissions via email or by any other means will not be accepted. If you do not wish to respond to all questions in the survey, you can opt to provide a 'general comment' only.

Keep up to date by:

Signing up to receive updates on Animal Welfare Act review.

What are the next steps?

The Department for Environment and Water will analyse all community feedback and provide a report of the outcomes to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water.

This information will be used to identify reform opportunities for consideration by the Minister.

The next steps will depend on the outcomes of this initial consultation, resources and timeframes necessary to implement proposed reforms.

  • Community feedback survey: Animal Welfare Act Review

    Before completing the survey, please: 

    • read the consultation paper to provide context and guidance to the questions that relate to specific parts of the Act
    • allow at least 20 minutes for completion if you intend to answer all of the questions
    • skip questions you do not wish to answer rather than selecting a ‘neutral response’
    • provide general comments on the Act, subordinate legislation or on animal welfare in the final question.

    Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.