South Australia's 2025 laws become nation's toughest, with prison and big fines, to combat animal cruelty, neglect
Changes to South Australia's Animal Welfare Act in 2025 included more funding to increase RSPCA inspectors on the road and responding quicker to animal cruelty reports. The inspectors were empowered to address neglect before harm occurred.
Images courtesy RSPCA SA and 7News Adelaide
South Australia introduced what were called Australia’s toughest animal welfare laws in 2025.
In the first changes to the state’s Animal Welfare Act since 2008, the parliament voted for corporations who mistreated animals to face fines of up to $1 million. Others who mistreated animals could be be sentenceds from four to a maximum 10 years in prison and be fined from $50,000 to up to $250,000.
RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) South Australia chief executive Marcus Gehrig said the old animal welfare act did not meet community expectations. “Often, we are so frustrated when we’ve prosecuted somebody to see them get away with a very small penalty and now seeing penalties increase is really satisfying.” More than $16 million over four years was budgeted for RSPCA SA to deliver animal welfare compliance activities in accordance with the new Act. Gehrig said the organisation was seeing a gradual increase in cruelty in South Australia and the additional funding would allow tit to increase inspectors on the road and respond quicker to cruelty reports.
Other changes to the Act included pet owners having to provide minimal care –appropriate food, water and shelter – for animals and mandatory reporting of suspected animal welfare offences within the greyhound racing industry. Under the law changes, RSPCA inspectors would be empowered to address neglect before harm occurs.
South Australia government deputy premier and environment minister Susan Close said that, in line with other Australia states, the definition of animal will also be broadened to include fish in a bid to address cruel practices such as harvesting of shark fins and stingray tails. These changes wouldn’t affect recreational and commercial fishing that remained under the control of the Fisheries Management Act. South Australia had more 365,000 recreational fishers.
More than 1000 people provided feedback on the proposed changes to Animal Welfare Act when the community was consulted in May 2024. Eight out of 10 respondents backed a new proactive duty-of-care provision that requires owners to provide animals with a minimum level of care, such as adequate food and water.
