A new proposed new law for the ACT recognising animals as sentient beings has been hailed as the first of its kind in Australia.
The intended recognition comes amid a broad range of reforms to strengthen the ACT’s animal welfare laws.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said the new legislation would ensure Canberra had best-practice, contemporary and effective animal welfare laws.
“The ACT community strongly values animals and they deserve to have a quality of life reflecting that intrinsic value,” Mr Steel said.
“The science tells us that animals are sentient, they feel emotion and pain, and we are seeking to recognise that in law.”
He said people had a duty to care for the mental and the physical welfare of the animals in their care and the legislation would strengthen protections.
Mr Steel said the new laws introduced a range of new, specific offences for failing to take appropriate care of an animal.
“These range from failing to provide an animal with water or shelter through to abandoning an animal, as well as offences for hitting or kicking an animal,” he said.
“Penalties for cruelty and aggravated cruelty have also been toughened and ownership bans can be enforced and new powers are proposed to seize animals.”
He said a new offence would be introduced in the Bill for instances in which a dog is confined for 24 hours without providing exercise.
“This does not apply to someone who keeps their dog in their yard, house or apartment and does not have the opportunity to walk them every day,” the Minister said.
“It would, however, apply in situation where a dog is tied to a pole for days on end or is kept in a cage where it cannot move.
“The legislation will also make it an offence for a person to take part in animal fighting or other violent activities, like pig-dogging, where an animal is used to torture or kill another animal,” he said.
