Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA)

South Australia Animal Welfare Act 2025 An Act to provide for the protection of animal welfare and the prevention of harm to animals, to make related amendments to the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935, the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, the Sentencing Act 2017 and the Veterinary Services Act 2023, to repeal the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and for other purposes.

Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title 2 Commencement 3 Interpretation 4 Application of Act 5 Principles and objects of Act Part 2—Animal welfare offences 6 General duty of care 7 Ill treatment of animals etc 8 Causing death or serious harm etc to working animals 9 Prohibited activities 10 Possession of certain items prohibited 11 Electrical devices not to be used in contravention of regulations 12 Jumps racing prohibited 13 Special requirements for greyhound racing entities 14 Exemption for fishing activities etc Part 3—Advisory committees etc 15 Establishment of committees by Minister 16 Conflict of interest Part 4—Licences, permits and registered activities Division 1—Licences for prescribed activities 17 Requirement to hold licence 18 Classes of licence 19 Application for and grant of licence 20 Nomination of responsible person for compliance 21 Conditions of licence 22 Term and renewal of licence 23 Licensee to notify change of particulars etc 24 Cancellation, suspension or surrender of licence Division 2—Permits 25 Permits for prescribed activities and items Division 3—Registered activities 26 Interpretation 27 Activities that must be registered 28 Minister may maintain registers 29 Registration 30 Nomination of responsible person for compliance 31 Conditions of registration 32 Term and renewal of registration 33 Animal ethics committees 34 Applicant to notify change of particulars etc Part 5—Enforcement Division 1—Authorised officers Subdivision 1—Appointment and identification of authorised officers 35 Appointment of authorised officers 36 Identification of authorised officers Subdivision 2—Powers of authorised officers 37 General powers 38 Provisions relating to seizure of things other than animals 39 Routine inspections 40 Animal welfare notices 41 Notice to comply 42 Offence to hinder etc authorised officers Division 2—Enforceable undertakings 43 Enforceable undertakings Division 3—Special powers relating to animals 44 Powers are additional 45 Special powers to protect animal welfare 46 Seizure and forfeiture following noncompliance with notice 47 Seizure and forfeiture following noncompliance with undertaking 48 Dealing with seized animals 49 Costs Division 4—Court orders 50 Interim orders 51 Court orders on finding of guilt etc 52 Compensation and other costs—working animals Division 5—Miscellaneous 53 Warrant procedures 54 Self‑incrimination Part 6—Reviews 55 Reviews by Minister 56 Reviews by SACAT 57 Reviews of decisions of animal ethics committees Part 7—Animal Welfare Fund 58 Animal Welfare Fund Part 8—Miscellaneous 59 Registration of interstate orders 60 Arrangements for exchange of information etc 61 Delegation 62 Exemptions 63 Waiver, reduction or refund of fees 64 False or misleading statements 65 Power of veterinarians to destroy animals 66 Power to provide food etc to neglected animals 67 Service of notices and documents 68 Proceedings for summary offences 69 Proceedings for indictable offences 70 Offences by bodies corporate 71 Continuing offences 72 Vicarious liability of employers in certain circumstances 73 Evidence 74 Codes 75 Act does not render unlawful practices that are in accordance with prescribed code of practice 76 Reports in respect of alleged contraventions 77 Obstruction of report of alleged contraventions 78 Victimisation 79 Regulations and fee notices 80 Review of Act Schedule 1—Related amendments and repeals Part 1—Amendment of Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 1 Amendment of section 20AA—Causing harm to, or assaulting, certain emergency workers etc 2 Repeal of Part 3C Part 2—Amendment of Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 3 Amendment of section 59D—Power to destroy dogs 4 Amendment of section 60—Power to seize and detain dogs 5 Amendment of section 63—Power to destroy cats 6 Amendment of section 64D—Notification to owner of dog or cat destroyed etc under Part Part 3—Amendment of Sentencing Act 2017 7 Insertion of section 26A 26A Additional orders for offences involving animals Part 4—Amendment of Veterinary Services Act 2023 8 Amendment of section 50—Veterinary services must be provided at registered premises 9 Amendment of section 51—Offence to carry on certain businesses other than at registered premises Part 5—Repeal of Animal Welfare Act 1985 10 Repeal of Act and regulations Legislative history