Animal Defenders Office in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | Community organisation

Animal Defenders Office

Locality: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Phone: +61 428 416 857

Address: 20 Genge Street 2601 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Website: http://www.ado.org.au

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23.01.2022 Our volunteer lawyers have been fighting to save another dog on death row. We had a two-day hearing in the local tribunal, and then have been fighting for our client’s right to access their dog while we await the decision. Initially access was denied, but we finally prevailed and got the green light for our client to visit their dog today, after the dog has spent more than 8 months alone in a cell. At least some momentary happiness for both human and dog today

21.01.2022 As National NAIDOC Week draws to a close, our volunteer lawyers have been doing what they can to help a First Nations person fight the system and get back their unjustly impounded dog from the local (white) government authority (case in progress!). We also wish to acknowledge the work done for local First Nations people by the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service - AHS, an invaluable organisation here in the ACT. Finally, we use this week to acknowledge and commemorate the true human history of this country a history which dates back thousands of generations. Always Was, Always Will Be! #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC

18.01.2022 Awful news from WA where over 1000 cows died from thirst and starvation on various properties, and it looks like no one may be charged for their suffering. This highlights one of the big problems with animal cruelty laws in Australia. Most have a cut-off time after which charges for cruelty cannot be laid. In NSW this period is ridiculously short at 12 months. Most other jurisdictions, including WA, allow 2 years. Victoria allows 3 years, and the ACT has no time limit for mor...e serious animal cruelty. In this WA case it seems 2 years should have been enough for the relevant government authorities to investigate and lay charges for the horrific neglect of these sentient animals. For the WA Agriculture Minister to suggest that animals dying from starvation and dehydration is not cruelty but ‘negligence’ is deeply concerning. Causing animals to suffer in this way is cruel and should be prosecuted under animal cruelty criminal laws, end of story. See more

16.01.2022 A truly momentous decision by New Zealand’s High Court yesterday, after volunteer animal lawyers argued the use of farrowing crates and sow stalls was contrary to the purposes of NZ’s animal welfare laws! The High Court AGREED and held that the parts of NZ’s animal welfare legislation and the relevant pig code of practice that allowed the use of these cages are unlawful and invalid. We’re still getting our head around the lengthy decision, but here are some early points of in...terest: The case was brought by the New Zealand Animal Law Association, a remarkable coalition of lawyers working voluntarily to improve the welfare and lives of animals through the legal system, and SAFE, a committed animal rights organisation. The applicants sought judicial review of a unique and complex scheme of legislation and standards that allowed pigs in New Zealand to be kept in farrowing crates and sow stalls. Farrowing crates and sow stalls were previously considered not to comply with NZ's Animal Welfare Act but had been allowed under an exemption clause. New Zealand Parliament got rid of the exemption clause in 2015, and required practices allowed under the exemptions to be phased out. BUT, farrowing crates and sow stalls were then allowed under a different part of the Act meaning they did not have to be phased out [4-5]. Yesterday the High Court held that continuing to allow the exemptions legalising farrowing crates and sow stalls is contrary to the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act and that the relevant parts of the legislation and the code are thereby invalid [8]. The High Court held that the purpose of the Act to recognise that animals are SENTIENT was relevant to the proceeding [70]. The High Court has directed the relevant Minister to consider recommending new legislation phasing out the use of farrowing crates and sow stalls and to change the relevant standards in the 2018 pig code [203]. Costs were awarded in favour of the applicants [205]. The decision was by High Court Justice Helen Cull. New Zealand’s High Court is not the highest court in the land (that’s the Supreme Court), so the decision may be appealed. We heartily congratulate the applicants for pursuing this litigation. Once again it demonstrates that government and industry cannot be relied upon to phase out cruel and inhumane husbandry practices. The High Court decision is available here: https://tinyurl.com/y6kzn3g2 https://www.rnz.co.nz//high-court-rules-farrowing-crates-f See more

13.01.2022 The NSW government announced today that it intends to increase maximum financial penalties for animal cruelty offences. Such law reform is long overdue as NSW penalties are currently the LOWEST in all animal welfare laws in Australia, by a country mile. Under the proposed changes the NSW penalty for animal cruelty would increase from $5,500 to $44,000, moving from the lowest in the country to the third highest behind Queensland and WA. The penalty for aggravated cruelty would... increase from the current paltry $22,000 up to $110,000, jumping NSW from the lowest to the second highest behind Queensland. The proposed increase in the fine for neglect offences is more modest, moving NSW from lowest to third lowest. The hope would be that increased maximum penalties would result in animal cruelty offenders receiving much higher sentences than is currently the case. For a complete comparison of current penalties for animal cruelty and neglect offences in all states and territories, see our website: https://www.ado.org.au/penalties-for-animal-cruelty-and-ne See more

12.01.2022 Some positive reform in NSW for animals caught up in domestic and family violence! Currently Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders prohibit perpetrators from ‘intimidating’ the victim-survivor. The NSW Government has now proposed a law that would change the definition of ‘intimidation’ to include actual or threatened harm to animals! This acknowledges how perpetrators use animals to intimidate victims during the relationship and after separation, and recognises that animals AR...E part of the family. But wait, there’s more! The NSW Government has also made available new grants from $3000 to a whopping $40,000 for animal welfare organisations to support families experiencing domestic violence, and domestic violence refuges to become animal-friendly. The NSW Attorney General will speak about these initiatives at the launch of the incredibly important Domestic Violence NSW report on 'Animals and people experiencing domestic and family violence’. You can ‘attend’ the FREE launch event on Wed 4 Nov at 2pm via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/y6ex7kn2. For more on the ‘Pets and Animal Welfare Support (PAWS)’ grants: https://tinyurl.com/yylolqqh. For more on the Stronger Communities Legislation Amendment (Domestic Violence) Bill 2020 (introduced 22 Oct 2020): https://tinyurl.com/yxef24en. See more

07.01.2022 *UPDATE* The case about the Lakesland Hen Rescuers was heard today by Justice Adamson in the NSW Supreme Court. Both sides put their oral submissions to the Court and after several hours of argument, the hearing concluded and the judge has reserved her decision! Thank you all for your good wishes! Now we wait... #justiceforthelakeslandhens

07.01.2022 Remember when NSW almost implemented a ban on greyhound racing? After the infamous backflip, the NSW government brought in a supposedly independent body to monitor welfare issues in the industry known as the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC). Industry supporters got rid of the ban before it started; now they want to get rid of GWIC through a NSW Parliamentary inquiry into the body. You can support the idea of an independent body overseeing greyhound welfare (...until greyhound racing is permanently banned!) by contributing to the inquiry. Not sure what to say? Some fine animal protection groups have done all the hard work and have draft responses and/or petitions ready to go. Deadline: 11:59pm this Friday 4 December. See: Animal Liberation: https://tinyurl.com/y3hph7wj Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds: https://tinyurl.com/y5tgpdo8 NSW Parliamentary Inquiry: https://tinyurl.com/y692m9y7 See more

06.01.2022 Another milestone today in the life of Kaavan, known as the world’s loneliest elephant, who earlier in the year was granted legal personhood by Islamabad’s High Court in Pakistan. Today he is due to leave the tiny enclosure where he has spent the last 35 years of his torturous life and be flown to a sanctuary in Cambodia. This is a living example of how we humans can deal with the transition of an animal from being an item of property to a legal person with rights. It will no...t be easy for Kaavan. There is no guarantee that he will take to his new life of relative ‘freedom’ after 35 years in his zoo enclosure and 8 years on his own without an elephant companion. But it has to be better than doing nothing, and hopefully will mean fewer animals who come after Kaavan will endure a life of captivity and horrendous suffering at the hands of humans. See more

04.01.2022 Wondering how best you can help animals? Direct action, politics, influencing through social media, or even the law?! The upcoming free webinar 'How Can We Best Help Animals?' will look at all these ways and more! The ADO’s Executive Director / Managing Solicitor will be there to put the case for (or against?) using the law to help animals. What better way to kick start your Saturday evening than tuning into this webinar! Saturday 7 Nov, 6-7.30pm. Venue: wherever you are and can get access to the internet! Registration for Zoom meeting: https://tinyurl.com/y32by9a4 Hosts: Animal Justice Party NSW and Young Animal Justice Party

03.01.2022 How deeply disappointing that the NSW government has rejected ALL of the important recommendations for improving NSW animal welfare law made by the NSW Upper House Committee of Inquiry. Recommendation: Independent Office of Animal Protection. Government response: *Not supported* Recommendation: Specialist animal cruelty investigative unit within NSW Police. Government response: *Not supported* Recommendation: Moving responsibility for animal welfare matters out of the Depart...ment of Primary Industries. Government response: *Not supported* Recommendation: Annual parliamentary public hearing into the charities and government departments responsible for enforcing anti-cruelty laws. Government response: *Not supported* Instead the government continues to support animal protection laws being enforced by a government department that promotes animal industries, and by private charities that are not accountable to the public. In light of the Committee's report this position is clearly not evidence-based and undermines any claim to being serious about animal welfare. We can only hope for a more enlightened government in the future that will accept and implement the Committee’s recommendations. The Government’s response to the Committee's report is available here: https://tinyurl.com/y9wnaflz See more

01.01.2022 Today ADO lawyers are heading to the Supreme Court of NSW to appeal an important matter of law about the criminal law defence of ‘necessity’ and whether it can be used to prevent harm to animals. Last year a NSW Local Court said the law should NOT allow private land to be entered in order to help dying hens, and heavily penalised 6 compassionate citizens for doing so. The defence of ‘necessity’ is available when a small offence is committed in order to stop a much greater har...m. Our law has recognised it to help persons in distress. Can it be used for ANIMALS whom the law regards as property? Can animals be regarded as LEGAL PERSONS for the purposes of the defence of necessity? We are representing the rescuers to bring these important animal law issues before the NSW Supreme Court. The matter is listed to be heard this morning by video link. #JusticeForTheLakeslandHens See more