The draft Animal Welfare Bill 2022 has been published (click here) on the NSW DPI website. The release of the draft Animal Welfare Bill 2022 marks an important step towards implementing the NSW Government’s commitment to introduce modern animal welfare laws

Also published is a Consultation Outcomes Report which summarises the feedback received through public consultation on the Discussion Paper.   

The draft Bill includes a specific exemption for fishing and hunting which replaces the previous “certain defences” provisions. There is an FAQ on our website on this.

By working with the Minister & DPI; AFTA has moved the aspect of Live Baiting from a defence the action to a specific exclusion as per:

 Division 2 Exemptions and related matters 119 Specific exemptions

(1) A person’s act or omission in relation to an animal is not an offence under this Act or the regulations if the act or omission occurred— 

(g)  for the purpose of using a live fish, decapod crustacean or cephalopod as bait or as a lure to take, or attempt to take, fish, or

A copy of the draft Animal Welfare Bill 2022 has also been provided to the Standing Committee on State Development as part of their inquiry into animal welfare policy in NSW. Consultation on the draft Bill is occurring through this inquiry process, with submissions open until 13 February 2022. More details on the inquiry, including on how to make a submission, are available on the NSW Parliament website: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=2853