Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Animal Sentience) Bill 2022

Recently The Greens Abigail Boyd MLC introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Animal Sentience) Bill.

This Bill is a Win for the AVA as it proposed an amendment to the Act to include reference to sentience and provides the definition of sentience as ‘sentience, of an animal, means the animal’s capacity to feel or experience negative and positive physical, mental and emotional states.’

The AVA called for the reference of ‘sentience’ be included in NSW animal welfare legislation through its submission and attending public hearing for the Inquiry Animal welfare policy in NSW. Additionally, we promoted the AVA Statement of Principles including ‘Animals are sentient beings that are conscious, feel pain, and experience emotions.’ in our submissions to the inquiry into the use of primates and other animals in medical research in NSW and the inquiry on puppy farming in NSW.

However, the Bill goes further than just including reference and definition of animal sentience. The AVA are currently reviewing the impacts of the Bill’s other proposed amendments including the new objects of the Act, definition of cruelty, how cruelty is determined, and animal welfare assessments.