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> Plants & animals > Animal welfare > Animal welfare legislation

Animal Welfare Act Review

The Animal Welfare Act 1985 aims to promote the welfare of animals in South Australia. The Act was last updated in 2008. The South Australian Government is reviewing the Animal Welfare Act to ensure the laws governing animal treatment stay up-to-date with community expectations.

A YourSAy consultation was held to gain community feedback on how the current laws are working and how they might be improved. Consultation closed on Sunday 26 March 2023.

The Department for Environment and Water is now reviewing contributions made to the YourSAy consultation and will provide a report of the outcomes to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water. This information will be used to identify reform opportunities for consideration by the Minister.

Subscribe to receive updates on the review or email animalwelfareactreview@sa.gov.au for more information.

Acknowledgement of Country

The state government acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Nations of the lands and waters we live and work upon and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and the relationship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country.

We work in partnership with the First Peoples of South Australia and support their Nations to take a leading role in caring for their Country.