Victoria’s Animals Deserve Justice. Now.

Victoria’s animal welfare system is failing. Laws are outdated. Enforcement is weak. Penalties are a joke.

The Animal Justice Party is calling for urgent action from the Victorian Government. We want two things:

• The immediate introduction of the Animal Care and Protection Bill, which has been sitting idle for more than two years

• An overhaul of the justice system to treat animal cruelty as the serious crime it is

Both are essential. Together, they can finally deliver the legal protection animals deserve.

Our Laws Are Stuck in the Past

Victoria’s current welfare legislation – the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 – is nearly 40 years old. It does not reflect modern science or the community’s expectation that animals should be treated as sentient beings.

In 2022, the Government released a draft Animal Care and Protection Bill. It promised to update enforcement powers, recognise sentience and modernise protections. But after public consultation, nothing happened. The bill still has not been introduced to Parliament.

Every day that passes is another day animals suffer without the protections they need.

And Even When Cruelty Is Proven – Offenders Walk Free

Cruelty is rampant. Penalties are pathetic.

Even in the most horrific cases, offenders often face nothing more than a fine or a slap on the wrist. Just look at these recent examples:

• Wildlife thrill killing: Four kangaroos were shot for sport. The shooter left behind a joey.

• Neglected cats: A banned offender found with 53 cats in poor health. Over 380 animals have been seized from them since 2014.

• Dog abuse on film: A South Melbourne man filmed violently abusing dogs. He received a $750 fine and a brief ownership ban.

• Starving horses: Horse neglect reports have surged by 53%, overwhelming the RSPCA

• Encouraged wildlife attacks: A man filmed his dogs mauling wildlife. He avoided jail.

• Mass livestock cruelty: Hundreds of cattle and sheep found emaciated or dead. Minimal penalties handed down.

• Bogged cattle left to die: A couple received $2,000 fines after animals were found suffering in deep mud with untreated injuries.

These are not isolated cases. They are a snapshot of a broken system.

The Government Must Act

This is not about political convenience. It is about political courage.

The Government cannot claim to care about animals while leaving them at the mercy of laws that do not protect them, and penalties that do not deter cruelty.

What You Can Do

We are asking you to take action on two fronts:

✍️ Sign the Victorian Parliament Petition to Introduce the Animal Care and Protection Bill
👉 Click here to sign

📢 Pledge Your Support to Make Animal Cruelty a Serious Crime
👉 Add your name here

What else can you do? 

📣 Share both petitions with your community and urge them to act too

💬 Contact your local MP and demand they support these urgent reforms

🐾 Join the Animal Justice Party and help us fight from inside Parliament

Let’s fix a broken system and turn Victoria into a leader in animal protection.