Have your say: NSW Companion Animal Act 1998 review

For the first time in 20 years, the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 is under review.

The NSW State Government is currently undertaking a review of its companion animal laws, including the Companion Animals Act 1998 (‘CA Act’), and the Companion Animals Regulation 2018.

This is a significant review, as the Act has not been updated for 20 years. This review process presents a crucial opportunity to advocate for stronger protections and better outcomes for all companion animals across NSW.

You can find more information about the review process on the Office of Local Government (OLG) website here.

This consultation process has closed.

Thank you for having your say for NSW companion animals.

What the Government’s review is focussing on

According to the NSW State Government, this review has three key focus areas:

1. Strategic framework for encouraging responsible ownership of companion animals;

2. Compliance and enforcement role of councils; and

3. Companion animal population and rehoming.

What’s glaringly missing is ‘responsible government’ care, consistency, oversight, and investment into better outcomes for all companion animals and upholding the very laws they create. The Discussion Paper is littered with statement like: ‘badly behaved pets’.

They claim: “NSW has made significant improvements in companion animal management over the last 25 years, resulting in safer communities and better outcomes for companion animals”. Animal Liberation refutes this claim.

Conditions in Moree Plains Shire Council pound

This consultation process has closed.

Thank you for having your say for NSW companion animals.

How to make and lodge a submission

Submissions to the NSW Companion Animals Act review can be lodged in a number of ways:

1. Online via the Office of Local Government’s website

2. Download a submission form here email to ca.review@olg.nsw.gov.au - with the subject line ‘Companion Animals Act Review Discussion Paper’

3. Use Animal Liberation’s flexible submission guide here

4. Compile and submit your own submission by emailing ca.review@olg.nsw.gov.au - with the subject line ‘Submission - Companion Animals Act Review’

Have your say by 11.59pm, Sunday 4 May 2025.