Across Australia, each State and Territory is governed by its own Animal Cruelty Acts: The Animal Welfare Act 1985 (SA), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 in NSW, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA), Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and the Criminal Code 1899 QLD, Animal Welfare Act 2002 WA, Animal Protection Act 2018 NT, and Animal Welfare Act 1993 in Tasmania; Animal Welfare Act 1992 ACT (Australian Capital Territory). Though well-intentioned, these disparate laws have left Australia as a fractured nation, unable to efficiently address animal cruelty with a unified voice or action.

The current legislation is not just outdated; it is a patchwork that fails to reflect the urgency needed to combat increasing cases of animal cruelty. Under these fragmented laws, perpetrators often receive merely a "slap on the wrist"—an outcome wholly inadequate in the face of the severity of their actions. As an animal lover and an advocate for their safety, I find it deeply troubling that no coordinated response exists to hold offenders accountable and prevent further harm.

In Victoria (AUS), it has been over 4 decades since any change.

A Bill has been sitting in Parliament since 2016. The Government used the Covid Pandemic as an excuse, some FOUR years later. Some FOUR years later there is still no change.

Who will stand up and give a voice?

During Covid, the adoption and/or purchase of animals increased significantly so people could have companionship.

Those companions need as much protection as we do.

Police dogs and horses get recognition, and rightly so. 

But all animals have a place in the Animal Cruelty Act but not those who create the reasons we fight for this Act.

In a world where animal cruelty is getting worse, the time has come for Australia to unify its laws into a single, overarching Federal Animal Cruelty Act. Such a comprehensive act would not only ensure consistency but also enhance the ability of enforcement agencies across Australia to mete out just and fitting punishments, thereby deterring future offenses.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Section 163 Subdivision 1630 highlights the deficiencies in our current system, which is failing both animals and citizens who care deeply about their welfare. Canada and New Zealand, among others, have shown that national laws can effectively stem the tide of animal cruelty and promote more ethical treatment of animals.

Our country, rich in biodiversity and home to a plethora of unique species, cannot afford to lag behind. We must take decisive action now. By creating and enacting a unified Federal Animal Cruelty Act, we will not only position ourselves as a leader in animal welfare but also honor our commitment to safeguarding the lives of countless animals across the nation.

Join me in urging the Australian government to embody the spirit of unity and justice. Let us come together as one to ensure no animal suffers due to fractured and ineffective laws. Sign this petition to demand a single cohesive Federal Animal Cruelty Act that will truly act to protect those without a voice.

This is inclusive of a National Registry for perpetrators charged with any Animal Cruelty act. These perpetrators currently, and freely, relocate to another State to commit similar and/or worse Animal Cruelty Acts.

And that they act to ensure that pets are acknowledged/recognised as FAMILY MEMBERS.

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