Animal Welfare Act 1992
- Number
- A1992-45
- Status
- In Force
Notes
- For infringement notice offences under this Act see Magistrates Court (Animal Welfare Infringement Notices) Regulation 2014[1]
- Current law
- Regulations & instruments
- Point-in-time versions
- Law history
Current version
Notes
- Uncommenced expiry of provisions.
- Proposed amendments by Statute Law Amendment Bill 2025[5].
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R34 | 15 May 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2024-11[6] |
Administering Minister and Directorate
- Minister for City and Government Services - City and Environment Directorate
Legislative instruments
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
Point-in-time versions
| Effective | Files/Formats | Version | Published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R34 | 15 May 2025 | Republication for amendments by A2024-11[6] |
| 22 February 2023 - 14 May 2025 | HTMLPDFWord | R33 | 22 February 2023 | Republication for amendments by A2023-1[55] |
| 23 June 2021 - 21 February 2023 | HTMLPDFWord | R32 | 23 June 2021 | Republication for amendments by A2021-12[56] |
| 10 April 2020 - 22 June 2021 | HTMLPDFWord | R31 | 10 April 2020 | Republication for amendments by A2019-35[57] |
| 17 October 2019 - 9 April 2020 | HTMLPDFWord | R30 | 17 October 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-35[57] |
| 26 August 2019 - 16 October 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R29 | 26 August 2019 | Republication for amendments by A2019-2[58] |
| 21 December 2018 - 25 August 2019 | HTMLPDFWord | R28 | 21 December 2018 | Republication for amendments by A2018-32[59] |
| 30 April 2018 - 20 December 2018 | HTMLPDFWord | R27 | 30 April 2018 | Republication for amendments by A2017-44[60] |
| 31 May 2016 - 29 April 2018 | HTMLPDFWord | R26 | 31 May 2016 | Republication for amendments by A2016-19[61] |
| 17 May 2016 - 30 May 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R25 | 17 May 2016 | Republication for expiry of transitional provisions (pt 12) |
| 14 October 2015 - 16 May 2016 | HTMLPDFWord | R24 | 14 October 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-33[62] |
| 15 September 2015 - 13 October 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R23 | 15 September 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2015-9[63] |
| 11 June 2015 - 14 September 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R22 | 11 June 2015 | Republication for amendments by A2014-59[64] |
| 7 March 2014 - 10 June 2015 | HTMLPDFWord | R21* | 7 March 2014 | Republication for amendments by A2014-3[65] |
| 1 March 2012 - 6 March 2014 | HTMLPDFWord | R20 | 1 March 2012 | Republication for amendments by A2011-48[66] |
| 1 July 2011 - 29 February 2012 | HTMLPDFWord | R19 | 1 July 2011 | Republication for amendments by A2011-22[67] |
| 1 October 2010 - 30 June 2011 | HTMLPDFWord | R18 | 1 October 2010 | Republication for amendments by A2010-14[68] |
| 28 March 2009 - 30 September 2010 | HTMLPDFWord | R17 | 28 March 2009 | Republication for commenced expiry |
| 2 February 2009 - 27 March 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R16 | 2 February 2009 | Republication for amendments by A2008-37[69] |
| 26 August 2008 - 1 February 2009 | HTMLPDFWord | R15 | 26 August 2008 | Republication for amendments by A2008-28[70] |
| 28 March 2008 - 25 August 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R14 | 28 March 2008 | Republication for commenced expiry |
| 27 December 2007 - 27 March 2008 | HTMLPDFWord | R13 | 27 December 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-39[71] |
| 26 September 2007 - 26 December 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R12 | 26 September 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-7[72] |
| 27 March 2007 - 25 September 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R11 | 27 March 2007 | Republication for amendments by A2007-7[72] |
| 11 May 2006 - 26 March 2007 | HTMLPDFWord | R10 | 11 May 2006 | Republication for amendments by A2006-17[73] |
| 25 November 2005 - 10 May 2006 | HTMLPDFWord | R9 | 25 November 2005 | Republication for commenced expiry |
| 24 November 2005 - 24 November 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R8 | 24 November 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-54[74] |
| 26 August 2005 - 23 November 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R7 | 26 August 2005 | Republication for amendments by A2005-19[75] |
| 17 August 2004 - 25 August 2005 | HTMLPDFWord | R6 | 17 August 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-50[76] |
| 9 April 2004 - 16 August 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R5 | 9 April 2004 | Republication for amendments by A2004-15[77] |
| 12 September 2001 - 8 April 2004 | HTMLPDFWord | R4 | 12 September 2001 | Republication for amendments by A2000-72[78], A2001-44[79] and A2001-56[80] |
| 31 January 1999 - 20 December 2000 | HTMLPDFWord | R3 (RI) | 21 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1997-45[81] and A1998-54[82] Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 8 February 1995 - 18 December 1997 | HTMLPDFWord | R2 (RI) | 21 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1994-110[83] Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 15 December 1994 - 7 February 1995 | HTMLPDFWord | R1B | 21 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1994-97[84] |
| 14 November 1994 - 14 December 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1A | 21 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1994-60[85] |
| 27 August 1993 - 13 November 1994 | HTMLPDFWord | R1 (RI) | 21 January 2020 | Republication for amendments by A1993-44[86] Reissued electronic republication of printed version |
| 2 November 1992 | HTMLPDFWord | As notified | 1 September 1992 |
Bill and Explanatory statement
The bill and explanatory statement for this Act are accessed from Animal Welfare Bill 1992[87].
Notification statement
The Animal Welfare Act 1992 was passed by the Legislative Assembly and was notified in the Gazette on 1 September 1992 (Gaz 1992 No S148).
(Parliamentary Counsel)
Act as notified
Commencement
| Provision | Commencement date | Commencement method |
|---|---|---|
| s 1, s 2 | 1 September 1992 | s 2 (1) |
| s 6, s 76, s 78, s 79, s 109 | 2 November 1992 | s 2 (2) and Gaz 1992 No 44 |
| remainder | 1 March 1993 | s 2 (3) |
Expiries
| Provision | Expiry date | Expiry method |
|---|---|---|
| s 113 | commences 17 October 2025 | s 113 (3) |
| pt 12 | 16 May 2016 (midnight) | s 121 |
| pt 11 | 27 March 2009 (midnight) | s 119 |
| s 5 (2)-(4), s 76 (3)-(5) | 27 March 2008 (midnight) | s 5 (4), s 76 (5) |
| s 6A (6)-(8), s 77 (6)-(8) | 24 November 2005 (midnight) | s 6A (8), s 77 (8) |
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
| Year and number | Amending law | Amending provision | Commencement date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A2024-11[6] | Biosecurity Legislation Amendment Act 2024 | sch 3 pt 3.2 | 15 May 2025 |
| A2023-1[55] | Animal Management and Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2023 | pt 2 | 22 February 2023 |
| A2021-12[56] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2021 | sch 3 pt 3.2 | 23 June 2021 |
| A2019-35[57] | Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | s 25, s 32, s 50, s 51, s 53, s 54, s 56, s 85, s 86, s 106, s 113, s 117, s 119 | 10 April 2020 |
| A2019-35[57] | Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | pt 2 (other than s 25, s 32, s 50, s 51, s 53, s 54, s 56, s 85, s 86, s 106, s 113, s 117, s 119) | 17 October 2019 |
| A2019-2[58] | Consumer Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2019 | sch 1 | 26 August 2019 |
| A2018-32[59] | Veterinary Practice Act 2018 | sch 3 pt 3.2 | 21 December 2018 |
| A2017-44[88] | Domestic Animals (Racing Greyhounds) Amendment Act 2017 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 30 April 2018 |
| A2016-19[89] | Animal Welfare Amendment Act 2016 | ss 4-24 | 31 May 2016 |
| A2015-33[90] | Red Tape Reduction Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | sch 1 pt 1.6 | 14 October 2015 |
| A2015-9[91] | Domestic Animals (Breeding) Legislation Amendment Act 2015 | pt 2 | 15 September 2015 |
| A2014-59[92] | Nature Conservation Act 2014 | sch 2 pt 2.1 | 11 June 2015 |
| A2014-3[93] | Animal Welfare (Factory Farming) Amendment Act 2014 | pt 2 | 7 March 2014 |
| A2011-48[94] | Evidence (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.3 | 1 March 2012 |
| A2011-22[95] | Administrative (One ACT Public Service Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2011 | sch 1 pt 1.10 | 1 July 2011 |
| A2010-14[96] | Animal Welfare Amendment Act 2010 | s 4-12 | 1 October 2010 |
| A2008-37[97] | ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008 (No 2) | sch 1 pt 1.8 | 2 February 2009 |
| A2008-28[98] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2008 | sch 3 pt 3.3 | 26 August 2008 |
| A2007-39[99] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2007 (No 3) | sch 3 pt 3.4 | 27 December 2007 |
| A2007-7[100] | Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2007 | s 15 | 26 September 2007 |
| A2007-7[100] | Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Act 2007 | pt 2 (except s 15) | 27 March 2007 |
| A2006-17[101] | Animal Welfare Amendment Act 2006 | s 4 | 11 May 2006 |
| A2005-54[102] | Criminal Code Harmonisation Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.3 | 24 November 2005 |
| A2005-19[103] | Stock Act 2005 | sch 1 pt 1.1 | 26 August 2005 |
| A2004-50[104] | Animal Legislation (Penalties) Amendment Act 2004 | pt 2 | 17 August 2004 |
| A2004-15[105] | Criminal Code (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Amendment Act 2004 | sch 1 pt 1.1, sch 2 pt 2.4 | 9 April 2004 |
| A2001-56[80] | Statute Law Amendment Act 2001 (No 2) | sch 3 pt 3.4 | 12 September 2001 |
| A2001-44[79] | Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 | pt 17 | 12 September 2001 |
| A2000-72[78] | Animal Welfare Amendment Act 2000 | ss 4-23, sch 1 | 21 December 2000 |
| A1998-54[82] | Statute Law Revision (Penalties) Act 1998 | sch | 9 December 1998 |
| A1997-45[81] | Animal Welfare (Amendment) Act 1997 | s 6 | 19 December 1997 |
| A1994-110[83] | Nature Conservation (Amendment) Act (No 2) 1994 | sch 2 | 8 February 1995 |
| A1994-97[84] | Statutory Offices (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 | sch | 15 December 1994 |
| A1994-60[85] | Administrative Appeals (Consequential Amendments) Act 1994 | sch 1 | 14 November 1994 |
| A1993-44[86] | Acts Revision (Position of Crown) Act 1993 | sch 2 | 27 August 1993 |
| A1997-45[81] | Animal Welfare (Amendment) Act 1997, as amended by:
|
s 4, s 5, s 5A | never commenced |