NSW New Offences for Leaving Dogs in Hot Cars, Prong Collars, Glue Traps, and Mulesing Sheep Without Pain Relief

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026

7 May 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

animal cruelty animal protection animal welfare livestock management veterinary procedures

Introduced by: The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Leaving a dog unattended in a vehicle in hot conditions without adequate cooling or ventilation is a new offence, as is restraining a dog on a metal tray in a vehicle without insulating material.
Tethering any animal for more than two hours without providing access to clean water is a new offence.
The Mules operation (cutting skin from a sheep's hindquarters to prevent flystrike) must be performed with a pain relief product — performing it without pain relief is a new offence.
Possessing or using a prong collar (a collar with inward-pointing metal spikes) on any animal is prohibited.
Glue traps are prohibited to possess or use, except for certain types permitted by the regulations.
Animal welfare inspectors gain new powers including authority to administer sedatives or pain relief to an animal in distress.
The Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries may issue seizure orders for distressed stock animals and can direct owners to keep stock off specified land.
Offences relating to animal sexual abuse are classified as animal cruelty offences under this Act.

News articles and press releases

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026

The Hon. TARA MORIARTY, Minister for Agriculture — 2026-05-07

The Act is almost 40 years old. This bill will modernise the animal welfare framework in our State. The reforms being introduced today will see an overhaul of the penalty framework in the Act by increasing and aligning penalties to community expectations, and to ensure that they are an appropriate deterrent to the offences in the Act. The bill will also update enforcement powers to ensure RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League and New South Wales police have the powers they need to enforce the laws. The bill makes numerous changes to modernise animal protections and enable appropriately trained members of our community to support the humane treatment of animals in critical situations.