(March 26, 2026)—An alliance of animal welfare groups is calling out Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan MP as stakeholders were informed that long-awaited reform to the state's animal welfare legislation may not make it in front of parliament this year due to a busy agenda and fewer sitting days.
The Australian Alliance for Animals, comprised of six member organisations, has written to the Premier outlining its concerns over further delay to introducing the Animal Care and Protection Bill, designed to replace the state's outdated Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA)—legislation which this year will be 40 years old. The government committed to the reforms almost a decade ago, in 2017.
"Failure by Premier Allan to bring this important legislation before the Victorian Parliament in 2026 would see yet another year of inadequate protections for animals in the state under its severely outdated laws," said Humane World for Animals Australia's Campaigns Director, Nicola Beynon. "The POCTA Act is one of the oldest pieces of animal welfare legislation in the country and the Victorian Labor Government first committed to reforming the legislation in 2017, taking this commitment to two successive elections."
"We're calling on Premier Allan to take immediate action to remedy this delay and bring this critically overdue draft legislation to parliament as soon as possible. Victorians have made it abundantly clear that animal welfare is a priority to them and the Government had said it was a priority for them. The existing laws are failing animals because they are not fit for purpose. The Premier and her government have a responsibility to uphold their promise to recognise this and take action for animals immediately."
"Victorians expect their laws to reflect modern community values and right now, they simply don't. Delaying these reforms yet again means prolonging a system that we already know is failing animals," said Dr Jed Goodfellow, Policy Director, Australian Alliance for Animals.
"Outdated legislation doesn't just fall behind — it actively fails those it is meant to protect. Without urgent reform, animals in Victoria remain vulnerable under a legal framework that no longer meets contemporary expectations," said Ms Glenys Oogjes, CEO, Animals Australia
"The Victorian Government has had years to get this reform right. Failing to introduce the legislation again in 2026 sends a deeply concerning signal that animal welfare is no longer a priority," said Mr Ben Pearson, Country Director, World Animal Protection Australia and New Zealand.
"Animal welfare reform has been on the agenda for years, yet animals are still waiting. Each delay undermines confidence that meaningful change will happen, while preventable suffering continues," said Ms Rebecca Linigen, National Director, FOUR PAWS Australia.
