Well, it is 2026 already!
2025 was yet another huge year for Animal Care Australia as we continued to respond across the multiple reviews and amendments to animal-based legislation across the country.
In addition to the countless attempts by local councils to limit how your pets can be kept, including restricting numbers with unrealistic and uneducated bias, this year highlighted the strongest influences of animal rights ideologies.
State Governments are bowing to the pressures and in true ‘cancel-culture’ mindset place restrictions or ban aspects of pet keeping rather than accepting their responsibilities and enforcing the legislation that already exists.
This is highlighted by the Tasmanian Government’s intended full ban on greyhounds. I say full ban – because the legislation does not just ban greyhound racing – it bans the import of greyhounds into the State during the phase-in period. So, whether you support the racing or not – the result will be the gradual demise of the greyhound in Tasmania. If breeders have to prove the dogs to be imported are for pet-use only, and subsequently cannot ensure viable genetic diversity, they will either cease breeding completely OR start inter-breeding with weakened genetics ultimately creating even larger animal welfare issues..
In New South Wales, a ban on instant applications for native wildlife licenses has seen an overwhelming and totally unnecessary delay in processing. This includes those doing the right thing and renewing their licenses. What was instant is now taking more than 50 days (if you are lucky). Why is that a concern? It is simple – legally the animals bred by these licensees cannot be sold, cannot be traded and as such must be held for far longer than necessary – creating welfare issues because of forced over-crowding. Let us not forget most reptiles, for example, should not be housed together or require some form of separation, once they start to grow. There has been so much red-tape added to the native wildlife licensing in NSW – it is leading to even greater non-compliance – for what outcome? Only time will tell – but you can be assured it will not be good for some of the animals.
Victoria is by far the worst government for pet keeping. Here is a government that has been so desperate to do deals with other Parties it has thrown pet owners under the bus! Planning laws that restrict all properties to no more than 5 animals without permits. Permits that are applied by overreaching, species biased, and uneducated local councils – that on average cost a pet owner $300 per year to renew. That is on top of their annual pet registration fees. A Government that has announced further restrictions on native wildlife licenses – again restricting numbers and banning species. Spent millions on a survey that only managed to tell us what we already knew – and with far less accuracy than the nationally recognised pet survey from Animal Medicines Australia. Let’s face it, it was never going to be accurate when you only asked questions about one of the many pets kept by the same individual or when those questions wanted to know how often you groomed or walked your pet goldfish!
Why are the states doing this? The claim is to improve animal welfare! But that is not true. Not when it includes restrictions on ‘colony species’ or when the science actually proves animal welfare improvements do not come from number restrictions – but from education and appropriate compliance investigation.
Across the Country we have governments outsourcing the investigations, the rescuing and the caring. Mostly to charitable organisations. Native wildlife that requires rescue or rehabilitation is in the hands of charities and voluinteers. Animal welfare legislation compliance is in the hands of charitable organisations. One organisation in particular is constantly in the media because of its unwillingness to actually do its job accompanied by ever increasing louder voices of accusations of intimidation, profiteering off seized animals and more.
Despite all of that – it is cheaper for a government to outsource than own its responsibilities.
Sounds like a war that cannot be won – doesn’t it?
Well not if you join Animal Care Australia. Not if you helps us to show the politicians that our voices count and they are loud. Loud enough to change who gets a seat in the local council, who gets to govern the state or territory, even who gets to govern the country.
I have been the President of Animal Care Australia since 2019 and over that time I have witnessed far too much complacency, and then when changes occur, far too much complaining and blame. These days there are too many keyboard warriors and critics and not enough willing ‘to walk the walk’ and put your hand up and be counted. You actually do not even have to leave your laptop. You just need to use the keyboard – spread the word, send letters to local Members or Councillors, and most of all join those of us who ARE doing the work. Who ARE making a difference – even if you do not actually see it – because we have headed it off before it gained traction.
With your support Animal Care Australia will continue to advocate for you and your pets and animals. Our priorities will include but are not limited to:
- Improving animal welfare education initiatives, including our own, ensuring everyone is doing their part to reduce and more importantly prevent the suffering of pets and animals
- Seeking the implementation of an Animal Welfare Commissioner across the nation – responsible for overseeing animal welfare improvements, outcomes, compliance, and enforcement. This means government funded compliance and enforcement officers who are held fully accountable by the government and the Parliament and therefore to society.
- Ensuring the needs of companion animals and pets are adequately and responsibly included in animal welfare legislation at all levels of government including the federal government’s Animal Welfare Strategy and National Standards.
- Holding all of the charitable organisations and others accountable through government liaison and calling for regulation of those still not yet regulated.
I am sure 2026 will be full of surprises and frustrations and yet again it will include state elections, first in South Australia and then in Victoria. It will continue to be a hard slog but regardless we look forward to advocating for you and protecting the ability of everyone to own a pet. Whether that be one pet or multiple. Animals and particularly pets bring so much into our lives and in return we have the responsibility to ensure their time with us is with a loving and caring home.
Michael Donnelly President, Animal Care Australia.
