December 2, 2022
A ban on prong collars for dogs and using yellow phosphorous (CSSP) to kill feral pigs are among a number of measures included in new Queensland animal welfare laws.
Offenders will also face up to three years in jail if they breach a duty of care and cause the death, disablement or prolonged suffering of an animal.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the new offence of aggravated breach of duty of care was just one of a range of changes being made to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
The updated Act also empowers welfare inspectors to intervene when an animal is found to be in distress.
Mr Furner said the changes were the first major review of the Act for 20 years and followed consultation with more than 2300 Queenslanders.
Key amendments include:
- New offence of breach of duty of care for causing death, serious deformity, serious disablement or prolonged suffering of an animal. Maximum penalty – 2000 penalty units or three years jail.
- Facilitating the ethical use of animals for scientific purposes while ensuring that animal welfare is not compromised.
- Greater use of animal welfare directions to enforce compulsory codes of practice, extending inspectors’ powers to enter a place to provide shelter to an animal, recognition of interstate prohibition orders, and a new power for an inspector to enter a livestock processing facility when a horse is being processed.
- Dogs must be secured while travelling on a tray of a vehicle, or a trailer attached to a vehicle. A dog’s body (other than its head) must not protrude from an open window. (Dogs assisting in moving livestock are exempt.)
- A ban on inhumane practices such as firing or blistering of horses and dogs and the possession and use of prong collars on dogs.
- Anyone using CSSP Pig Poison can be prosecuted for animal cruelty.
- A new framework for cattle procedures accreditation schemes, including lay pregnancy testing.
- Implementing some of the recommendations of the Martin Inquiry into the treatment of racehorses.
- Implementing some of the 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.
The State Government committed to review the Animal Care and Protection Act in December 2020.
Footnote: According to the PestSmart website, pigs which ingest CSSP usually take between two and four days to die, but in some cases death from liver necrosis and heart failure can take up to three weeks. Possums which eat the poison usually develop clinical signs within three to six hours, become prostrate after about 18 hours and die after about 25 hours.
