NSW Fines or Jail for Keeping Laying Hens in Cages

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Battery Cage Prohibition) Bill 2023

Private Member's Bill

31 May 2023: 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 welfare cage-free farming criminal penalties egg production farming laying hens

Introduced by: Emma Hurst MLC (AJP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

People are banned from keeping laying hens (chickens kept for commercial egg production) in cages.
Individuals who keep laying hens in cages can be fined up to 400 penalty units (2026: $44,000) or face up to 1 year in jail, or both. Corporations can be fined up to 2,000 penalty units (2026: $220,000).
The ban does not apply to people transporting laying hens.
People accused of keeping laying hens in cages cannot use the standard defences usually available under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.
Animal welfare guidelines for farm or companion animals will not apply if they conflict with the Act or its regulations.

News articles and press releases

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Battery Cage Prohibition) Bill 2023

The Hon. EMMA HURST — 2023-05-31

the reality is that a 13-year phase-out is just not acceptable. We cannot allow millions of hens to languish in cages any longer. That is why I am compelled to introduce the bill today. The hens and people of New South Wales have been waiting for far too long. The bill is straightforward. It creates a new offence in section 21D of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to confine any laying hen in a cage for commercial purposes. This would prevent the use of battery cages, as well as other types of cages, but would not affect the transport of hens.