Prong collars and other inhumane practices would be banned as part of the biggest reforms of animal welfare laws in Queensland in more than 20 years.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Palaszczuk Government is delivering on an election commitment to review the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
“Queensland already has some of the strongest animal welfare laws in the country, but we wanted to make sure the Act was current and reflected community expectations,” Mr Furner said.
“The community said to us overwhelmingly inhumane practices like the use of pronged collars have to stop.
“These collars are designed to train or restrain animals by injuring them and the fact is there are better ways to train our family pets.
“That’s why new amendments to the Act will ban these collars as well as other inhumane practices like the firing of a horse or dog’s legs as a means of treating injuries.”
Other key amendments include:
- Prohibition on the use of yellow phosphorous pig poison.
- Strengthening enforcement powers for inspectors and
- Delivering on an election commitment to allow pregnancy testing of cattle by accredited laypersons.
Mr Furner thanked the more than 2,300 Queenslanders and groups that made submissions into the review of the Act.
Further amendments will be announced shortly.
“Stakeholders will be able to provide further feedback on the proposed amendments via the Parliamentary Committee process before any amendments to the Act are made,” he said.
“The amendments demonstrate the Palaszczuk Government’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding animals from inhumane and unnecessary practices.”
