Media Release 25 November 2008
New law book reveals the victims of Australia’s animal cruelty laws
The launch of the first book to examine Australian animal cruelty laws presents a significant blow
to the Federal Government’s claim that Australia is a world leader in animal welfare.
Written by Animals Australia’s Legal Council Dr Malcolm Caulfield, the book reveals that rather than
provide protection for animals, exemptions, defences and inconsistencies in current animal cruelty laws
permit cruel treatment to millions of animals in Australia – particularly in factory farms and the live export
industry.
Dr Caulfield’s examination also reveals that the enforcement of animal cruelty laws in Australia is of major
concern particularly as increasing intensification of animal use in agriculture has occurred in parallel with
increasing concealment of intensively farmed animals from public scrutiny
Dr Caulfield states;
“Much of the enforcement is delegated by governments to the RSPCA, or done by government
departments whose primary focus is to further the interests of intensive animal farmers, live
exporters and the like.
“The simple fact that animal cruelty legislation is the only legislation delegated by governments to
an unaccountable private organisation indicates their reticence to take animal welfare seriously.
“As a result the ability to investigate and prosecute breaches of animal cruelty laws is being
hindered by the financial limitations of a charity.”
The launch of Dr Caulfield’s book ‘Handbook of Australian Animal Cruelty Law’ reflects the substantial
growth of interest and involvement of the legal fraternity and the community as awareness has grown of the
failure of Australian animal welfare legislation to protect animals from cruelty.
The book will provide a unique resource comparing the detail of animal cruelty law in the different
Australian jurisdictions, but more importantly provides additional direct evidence of the complete failure of
Australian law to properly deal with animal cruelty inflicted by those who use animals for profit.
Media comment:
Dr Malcolm Caulfield, Legal Counsel, Animals Australia:
Mobile 042 7777 663
Glenys Oogjes, Executive Director, Animals Australia:
Mobile 041 4312 552
Animals Australia Office 03 9329 6333
Animals Australia Inc. 37 O’Connell Street, North Melbourne 3051
NEWS 
