LGA advocacy secures wins in new dog management laws
The Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024 bans the operation of large-scale puppy farms, enforces higher penalties for serious dog attacks and gives councils greater powers to respond to barking and wandering dogs.
Our advocacy
LGA provided a submission on the Bill during the consultation phase last July – after gathering feedback and insights from councils across the state – which listed our key recommendations for consideration.
We’re pleased the following points were adopted:
- more support for council prevention measures
- ensuring proper enforcement frameworks for wandering dogs and nuisance behaviours to promote community safety, and a formal consultation with councils for breeder enforcement compliance
- confirmed that criminal defences (such as self-defence) under the Act do not apply to civil control or destruction orders
- clarifying councils' authority to act decisively in protecting the community.
LGA extends sincere thanks to our member councils, legal partners, state parliamentarians and state departments for working with us to align legislative detail with operational practicality.
Key changes
Puppy farm ban and breeder licensing
The new legislation bans large-scale puppy farms, establishes a robust breeder licensing regime with criminal background checks, litter reporting and penalties of up to $10,000 for unlicensed breeding.
LGA is particularly pleased councils will not be responsible for enforcing these breeder regulations or paying for their administration.
Enforcement is now centred with the Dog and Cat Management Board, Department for Environment and Water, and RSPCA, funded by increased breeder registration fee revenue.
This reflects direct outcomes of LGA’s submission process, and ongoing advocacy, which opposed the extension of council responsibilities to include animal welfare issues.
This ensures local councils can focus on core community services, without extra resourcing burdens.
Enhanced enforcement powers
The legislation also delivers substantial enhancements to dog management laws, including:
- higher maximum penalties, up to $25,000 for serious dog attacks, rising to $50,000 if the dog was previously declared dangerous, and up to $100,000 (or four years’ jail) if an owner encouraged the attack
- greater recognition and enforcement of interstate control orders (for example, dangerous or prohibition orders)
- expanded council powers to tackle nuisance barking and wandering dogs with control orders and penalties up to $2,500 per offence.
These changes will help keep communities safer and enable councils to respond more effectively to dog nuisance-related matters when required.
Find out more
Read LGA's submission on Breeder Reforms.