View RSPCA NSW’s policies regarding animal welfare and legislative issues. Home Who we are RSPCA Policies Legislation Who we are About RSPCA NSW Locations Shelters Blue Mountains Shelter (Katoomba) Coffs Harbour Shelter Hunter Shelter Sydney Shelter (Yagoona) Illawarra Shelter Central West (Orange) Shelter Port Macquarie Shelter Veterinary Hospitals Sydney Veterinary Hospital (Yagoona) Hunter Veterinary Hospital (Rutherford) Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital Care Centres Care Centre Tuggerah Petbarn Alexandria Bathurst Belrose Brookvale Campbelltown Caringbah Castle Hill Casula Chatswood Coffs Harbour Double Bay Dubbo Gladesville Hoxton Park Katoomba Mittagong Neutral Bay Newcastle West Nowra North Parramatta Orange Penrith Homemaker Centre Port Macquarie Punchbowl Rozelle Rutherford Shellharbour Strathfield Tamworth West Gosford West Ryde Wetherill Park Menai Narrabeen Blacktown Marsden Park Branches and Support Teams Albury Volunteer Branch Armidale Volunteer Branch Bathurst Volunteer Branch Blue Mountains Volunteer Branch Broken Hill Volunteer Branch Cooma Volunteer Branch Central West Supporter Group Eurobodalla Volunteer Branch Glen Innes Volunteer Branch Goulburn Volunteer Branch Gunnedah Volunteer Branch Hunter Supporter Group Illawarra Volunteer Branch Inverell Volunteer Branch Shoalhaven Volunteer Branch Orange Volunteer Branch Port Macquarie Volunteer Branch Sydney Auxiliary Volunteer Branch Tamworth Volunteer Branch Taree Supporter Group Tenterfield Supporter Group The Board Strategic Plan Careers at RSPCA NSW Community Animal Operations Support Services Fundraising RSPCA Policies Legislation RSPCA PoliciesLegislation Legislation As well as preventing cruelty to animals by enforcing existing legislation, the RSPCA also works to reform legislation and improve animal welfare. Animal welfare legislation is developed and administered at the state and territory level. In recent times, legislation has evolved to broaden its scope from simply prohibiting acts of cruelty to animals, to actively promoting the welfare of animals. This is reflected in the concept of ‘duty of care’. If you are in charge of an animal, you have a duty of care to that animal. Legislation FAQsWhat is the Australian legislation governing animal welfare? There are no national laws applying to animal welfare, but all states and territories regulate animal welfare in their jurisdiction. NSW legislation governing animal welfare is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. Where can I find out if certain animals are protected by animal welfare legislation? You can find out more at kb.rspca.org.au. How do I contact the government to ask for improvements in farm animal welfare? Most farm animal welfare issues are the responsibility of state and territory governments. If you are concerned about animal welfare issues, you can write to the Federal Minister for Agriculture responsible for farm animal welfare. Federal Minister for Agriculture The Hon David Littleproud MP Minister for Agriculture PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 P: (02) 6277 7530 E: David.Littleproud.MP@aph.gov.au
