Sustainability-related Regulations Database

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Animal Welfare Act 1992

Description: A short description of the legislation.

The main objects of this Act are to recognise that— (a) animals are sentient beings that are able to subjectively feel and perceive the world around them; and (b) animals have intrinsic value and deserve to be treated with compassion and have a quality of life that reflects their intrinsic value; and © people have a duty to care for the physical and mental welfare of animals. (2) This is to be achieved particularly by— (a) promoting and protecting the welfare of animals; and (b) providing for the proper and humane care, management and treatment of animals; and © deterring and preventing animal cruelty and the abuse and neglect of animals; and (d) enforcing laws about the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and ©.

Application to Australian agriculture: Where the legislation is applicable.

Protects agricultural animals from abuse in the ACT.

Compliance information: Often the evidence of compliance against a piece of legislation is that there is not a breach of the Act. Where appropriate, the developers of this database have listed evidence which could be used to show compliance if a breach was to be found. Many Best Management Practice (BMP) schemes and other certifications in Australian agriculture include this evidence for accreditation.

The following documentation/information is required to provide evidence of compliance.

Subject to subsection (2), an inspector who enters premises in accordance with section 81 may, if the inspector believes it on reasonable grounds to be necessary for the purposes of this Act— (a) examine any animal in or on the premises; or (b) give assistance to any animal on the premises; or (c) inspect the premises and anything in or on the premises (including a document); or (d) take copies of, or extracts from, any document in or on the premises; or (e) take photographs or make films or videotapes of the premises or any animal or thing in or on the premises; or (f) seize anything (including a document), that the inspector believes on reasonable grounds to be connected with an offence; or (g) require any person in or on the premises to give the inspector such assistance as is reasonable to enable the inspector to exercise the inspector’s powers under this section; or (h) ask questions of any person in or on the premises where the inspector considers it reasonable to enable the inspector to exercise powers under this section.

Additional information: The entity this legislation originates from.

ACT Legislation Register →

Source documents: Links to the legislation documents.