What’s banned under new animal protection laws

The state’s Animal Care and Protection Act has been updated to better safeguard Queenslanders’ furry friends. WHAT’S CHANGED

Pronged dog collars will be banned.

Pronged dog collars will be banned, while farmers could face prosecution for using a popular poison to kill feral pigs under new animal rights laws passed by Queensland Parliament on Friday.

Key changes under the Bill also include a new offence of breach of duty of care for causing death, serious deformity, serious disablement or prolonged suffering of an animal, with a three-year prison sentence attached.

Dogs must also be secured while travelling in the tray of a vehicle, and any part of a dog’s body – other than its head – must not protrude from an open window.

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the changes followed the first major review of animal welfare laws in almost two decades.

“Queenslanders want to see animals better protected and people who don’t comply punished appropriately, and that is exactly what these updated laws provide,” he said.

“Being able to love and keep pets like dogs is an important part of many people’s lives, and Queenslanders want those pets to have strong protections.

“Queenslanders want animals treated with care and respect, and the updated Animal Care and Protection Act will contribute to that.”

But a number of Opposition members and Katter’s Australian Party had expressed concern over the law changes during heated debate this week.

KAP sought to delay the ban of (pig poison) CSSP for two years, saying it was a “necessary evil” to control destructive wild pig populations.

“In relation to CSSP my concern, echoed by AgForce and many other stakeholders, is that consultation on this issue has been insufficient,” KAP leader Robbie Katter said.

“In addition, the importance of the CSSP and other tools to control the millions and millions of feral pigs occupying North Queensland has never been greater from a biosecurity perspective.”