Commencement of the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2023

The Queensland CVO has advised of the commencement of the Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2023 (the 2023 Regulation) on 1 September 2023, made under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (the Act).

The Regulation prescribes various matters under the Act including codes of practice for cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, livestock being transported, livestock at depots and saleyards, rodeos and breeding dogs. These matters were previously prescribed in the Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2012 (the 2012 Regulation). Under the Statutory Instruments Act 1992, regulations have an automatic expiry or ‘sunset’ date of 10 years after making, with limited extensions available. The 2012 Regulation was due for expiry.

A sunset review identified that the regulation should be remade so that the matters above can continue to be prescribed to support the purposes of the Act.

There are no significant policy changes. Most requirements remain the same. The Codes of Practice for Cattle, Sheep, Domestic Fowl, Pigs, Transport of Livestock and Livestock at Depots and Saleyards continue to be based on national standards. The Codes of Practice for Rodeos and Breeding Dogs continue to be based on Queensland standards.

The 2023 Regulation will be enforced in the same way as the 2012 Regulation by inspectors appointed under the Act. These include inspectors from DAF and RSPCA Queensland and the Queensland Police.

The 2023 Regulation includes some changes to the structure and wording of provisions. These changes use plain language where possible, group similar provisions together and present them in similar order across Codes of Practice and remove ‘spent’ provisions (i.e., provisions with a compliance date that has already passed).

The 2023 Regulation is available at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.