Tasmania could soon catch up on laws recognising the role of animal cruelty in domestic violence

‘This is what I’ve done to your pet and this is what I can do to you.’ Tasmania could soon catch up on legislation that recognises how animal cruelty is used by abusers to control their partners.

Independent member for Franklin David O’Byrne and Engender Equality CEO Alina Thomas. Picture: Linda Higginson.

Tasmania could soon catch up on legislation that recognises how animal cruelty is used by violent abusers to control their partners.

This week, independent MP David O’Byrne will introduce a private member’s Bill aimed at broadening the definition of family violence under law to include people’s pets, given many women are too fearful to leave a partner because the safety of a pet is at stake.

Mr O’Byrne said Tasmania was one of just two jurisdictions left in Australia to do so, along with Western Australia, following a recommendation from the Australian Law Reform Commission back in 2010.

“We know family and domestic violence is pervasive in Tasmania, we know too many people are in awful circumstances,” he said.

“People in these sorts of circumstances dearly love their pets, and for those pets or animals to be used as a form of coercive control, as a threat, is outrageous and it should be defined as family violence so it gives Tasmania Police and the courts the authority to move on these matters.”

Mr O’Byrne noted the recommendation for legislative change occurred back in 2010, and it “shouldn’t take another horrific story” for the changes to be finally implemented in Tasmania.

“We’ve been in discussions over the past 24 hours or so with the state government. This is something I believe will be supported by the government, which is crucially important for it to be able to get through both houses of parliament,” he said.

Zac, a border collie-cross, in an RSPCA domestic violence crisis program.

“But I would expect all parliamentarians to put their hand up and support this kind of measure.”

Engender Equality CEO Alina Thomas said it was “incredibly common” in Tasmania to see pets being threatened, abused, neglected, harmed or even killed as a means of controlling a partner.

“People will use whatever mechanisms they can to control their partner – pets being a very effective mechanism,” she said.

“When someone is in a crisis and is needing to leave their home, it can be difficult to also be thinking about how they’re going to accommodate their pet in that. Pets aren’t necessarily allowed in refuges in Tasmania and other emergency accommodation, whether it’s a hotel or a transitional crisis response (service).”

Ms Thomas said it was a particular issue for Tasmania, given its regional and rural population meant many residents had pets, livestock or companion animals.

“We’ve heard stories about pets being harmed as a threat, ‘this is what I’ve done to your pet and this is what I can do to you’,” she said.

“That can happen in front of children, leading to lifelong impacts.”

Ms Thomas said changing the legislation would not only empower Tasmania Police, but increase public awareness and support over the issue.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the government was “certainly willing to consider” the Bill.

“Naturally we’ll get advice, talk to David, and the parliament will decide,” he said.

“We’re always open to good ideas, and ideas that can add value and strengthen legislation that we put forward.”

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Originally published as Tasmania could soon catch up on laws recognising the role of animal cruelty in domestic violence