The state of New South Wales is poised to enact the most significant shake-up of its animal welfare laws in years, introducing harsh new penalties for acts of cruelty including leaving pets in sweltering vehicles and using brutal prong collars.
Stiff Penalties and New Powers for Inspectors
Under the proposed legislative overhaul, offenders could face devastating consequences, including fines of up to $44,000 and a potential year of imprisonment. This would bring punishments for these specific acts of neglect in line with the state's most severe animal cruelty penalties.
The sweeping reforms, described as long overdue, will finally align NSW with the stricter regimes already operating in Western Australia and South Australia, where maximum penalties for the worst abuse can reach five years in prison and $50,000 fines.
The changes would also grant animal welfare inspectors new, critical powers. They would be authorised to administer immediate pain relief to suffering animals and perform emergency euthanasia in dire situations where an animal's distress is extreme.
Targeting Specific Cruel Practices
The legislation takes direct aim at several high-risk practices. A new provision will outlaw the possession of deadly glue traps, which ensnare and slowly kill native wildlife.
Furthermore, the government is creating a specific, easier-to-prove offence for leaving dogs in hot cars. While prosecution is already possible in serious cases, the new law will define clear breaches based on temperature and time limits, though the specific thresholds are yet to be determined. For comparison, in Victoria, a dog cannot be left in a car for more than ten minutes once the outside temperature hits 28 degrees Celsius.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty left no doubt about the government's stance. 'Leaving dogs in locked cars on hot days is not acceptable, and neither is the use of collars with prongs that spike into the necks of puppies and dogs,' she stated. She highlighted that on a 30-degree day, a parked car's interior can become a lethal oven, reaching a blistering 70°C. 'That's a death knell for an animal left inside,' she added.
Broader Impact and Community Backing
The reforms will also affect tradies, farmers, and other motorists who travel with dogs on the backs of utility vehicles (utes), mandating safer practices.
Stephen Albin, Chief Executive of the Animal Welfare League NSW, noted the shift in how people view their pets. 'You've got to ensure you look after them, and that is by not keeping them in cars on a hot day and not necessarily tethering them to the back of utes, unsafely,' he advised.
The crackdown extends to animal fighting, with the legislation designed to close potential loopholes and support police in tackling links to organised crime. Those who facilitate animal fights could be fined up to $110,000 and face two years in prison.
Minister Moriarty confirmed the proposals follow extensive consultation. 'I've heard first-hand community views that put expectations on our government to take action and set these matters right,' she said. The package is expected to be introduced to the NSW parliament in the first half of 2026.
This move builds on recent NSW animal welfare actions, including the 2024 ban on puppy farms, multi-million dollar investments in enforcement, and laws to prevent convicted animal abusers from keeping or breeding animals. Data from the RSPCA NSW underscores the urgency, with the organisation receiving more than 500 reports of pets locked in cars in the past six years alone.
