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Legislation
The Animal Welfare Act 1985
The primary South Australian Act of Parliament defining animal welfare requirements is the The Animal Welfare Act 1985 and its subordinate Animal Welfare Regulations 2000.
For the purposes of the Act an "animal" means a member of any species of the sub phylum vertebrata except -
(a) a human being; or
(b) a fish,
and includes any prescribed animal.
The Act applies equally to all animals included in this regardless of their value, conservation or definition pest status. Compliance with the requirements of the Act can be both voluntary and mandatory.
Voluntary compliance is achieved by:
- industry quality assurance programs;
- education programs;
- training of animal handlers; and
- the simple fact that the vast majority of people care about animals and try to do the best thing they can for them.
Mandatory compliance is achieved by the appointment of inspectors under the Act. These include:
- RSPCA officers;
- livestock inspectors;
- National Parks and Wildlife wardens; and
- inspectors under the Natural Resources Management Act
In addition the Act provides that all police officers are authorised as inspectors.
The RSPCA undertakes most of the inspections, investigations and prosecutions on behalf of the Government. To assist in this undertaking the Government provides the Society with $660,000 annually.
