Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (18:46): (2520) My adjournment is to the Premier, and the action I seek is that she immediately put the animal care and protection bill back on the parliamentary agenda. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 is now 40 years old. Greens MPs have been advocating for stronger animal protection laws since we were first in this place. In her inaugural speech in 2006 former Greens MP Sue Pennicuik said:

Animals cannot advocate for themselves. They need people to do it for them …

She committed to working to end cruel and exploitative practices. After 20 years of delay, Victoria is still waiting for animal welfare laws that meet community expectations. Finally in 2017 the Labor government committed to replacing our outdated laws, and since then there have been reviews, consultation papers, stakeholder meetings, an exposure draft and years of work by animal welfare organisations, legal experts, industry advocates and community members. After all of that, the government has shelved the bill – a decade of work. Labor should be ashamed of itself.

Animal welfare organisations have condemned this delay. Humane World for Animals has said that the current act is ‘one of the oldest pieces of animal welfare legislation in the country’, ‘not fit for purpose’ and ‘failing animals’. World Animal Protection has said:

The Victorian Government has had years to get this reform right. Failing to introduce the legislation again in 2026 sends a deeply concerning signal that animal welfare is no longer a priority …

for this government. The need for reform is real and urgent. In February this year RSPCA, in just one of the latest examples, seized 13 horses and 24 cats from a property linked to a repeat animal cruelty offender. RSPCA said that more than 400 animals had been removed from this same person’s care over the past decade and that this was their fourth breach of court orders. In response to that case RSPCA Victoria CEO Dr Liz Walker said:

It’s simple: Animal cruelty is a crime in Victoria, but we need stronger laws and tougher penalties for offenders …

The government has given an excuse that this parliamentary calendar is too crowded. After a decade of consultation, that is not an excuse, it is an admission of failure. If Labor can find time for racing, gambling and industry priorities, it can find time to protect animals from cruelty and neglect.

The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Ms Copsey, but an action calling for legislation is not allowed in the adjournment. Your action could be to review policies and legislation in regard to animal cruelty.

Katherine COPSEY: President, on your ruling, if I can, we have checked the wording with the table office prior to me delivering this adjournment this evening –

The PRESIDENT: That is a good practice. We will come back to you. If I am right, we will make sure you get an action out of it.

Katherine COPSEY: Thank you, President. I appreciate that.