Petition

This petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House that the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld), as it currently stands, does not recognise the sentience of animals. The Act is based on the outdated legal status of animals as property. This position is not reflective of current scientific evidence or community standards. Queenslanders recognise that animals are sentient beings with intrinsic value who experience emotions and have desires and interests. As animals are sentient beings like us, they also have the ability to suffer and feel pain. The very Act that is promoted as protecting them, must therefore reflect this reality.

Your petitioners, draw your attention to the Australian Capital Territory, which has formally recognised the sentience of animals in their Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT). Your petitioners welcome these changes in the ACT and request the House follow suit in formally recognising the sentience of animals in our own Act. 

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House take steps to amend s 3 of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld) to reflect the wording of s 4A Animal Welfare Act 1992 (ACT) in full.