The Minns Labor Government has announced $12.5 million in funding for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals NSW (RSPCA) and the Animal Welfare League NSW (AWL).

This support will strengthen their enforcement and compliance efforts to protect cats, dogs, livestock, and other animals across NSW.

The funding is part of the NSW Government’s election commitments to establish a modern, fit for purpose animal welfare framework.

As part of the enforcement grants announced, the RSPCA NSW will receive $11.3 million, and the AWL NSW will receive $1.17 million.

The funding is substantially higher than any other state or territory has allocated to charitable animal welfare organisations to undertake their compliance and enforcement work.

The funding will be used to:

• Fund animal welfare inspectors who play a crucial role in enforcing NSW animal welfare laws
• Investigate animal cruelty complaints, protecting vulnerable animals from harm or distress
• Carry out enforcement action on those people doing animals’ harm
• Provide a one-off upgrade to AWL operating systems for streamlined compliance data and reporting.
• Cover vehicle operating and legal expenses.

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The announcement follows recent government animal welfare initiatives, including new ‘fit and proper’ laws preventing individuals convicted of repeat animal cruelty offences from keeping or breeding animals.

“The NSW Government is committed to improving animal welfare standards across our state,” says Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty.

“We will continue to work with stakeholder, advocates, and the community to improve animal welfare and to build a better and stronger framework of animal protection.”

“We recognise the compliance work the Animal Welfare League and RSPCA do and value the long-standing relationships we have with them to achieve better outcomes for the animals of NSW,” the minister adds.

Last month, the government also introduced a Bill to ban the appalling practice of puppy farming.

The grant applications and subsequent funding was assessed in accordance the requirements under the NSW Grants Administration Guide and was overseen by an independent panel.

The purpose of these enforcement grants is to support approved charitable organisations and carry out Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 enforcement and compliance activities for the current 2024/25 financial year.