Australian animal welfare legislation: a verified state-by-state reference
Animal welfare in Australia is regulated at the state and territory level, with the federal government (DAFF) setting the national framework. Each jurisdiction has its own Act, Regulations, and administering department. This page provides a verified reference to the current legislation in every state and territory — the laws that underpin responsible breeding and animal care across Australia.
Animal welfare legislation varies significantly across Australia. Some states have introduced comprehensive breeder registration systems, breeding limits, and mandatory identification numbers. Others still have minimal requirements — in some jurisdictions, there are no limits on how many dogs a person can breed, no mandatory breeder registration, and no public register for you to check. This page sets out exactly what the law requires in each state and territory, so you can see what protections exist — and where the gaps are.
We work directly with state and territory government departments, registering bodies, and welfare organisations to help strengthen these protections. Where legislation hasn't yet caught up, platforms like ours, registering bodies and councils we work with play a critical role in filling those gaps.
New South Wales
NSW
Victoria
VIC
Queensland
QLD
South Australia
SA
Western Australia
WA
Tasmania
TAS
Australian Capital Territory
ACT
Northern Territory
NT
What this means for breeders
As a breeder in Australia, you must comply with the animal welfare laws in your state or territory — including the Act, its Regulations, and any mandatory codes of practice. On top of state law, breeders on Perfect Pets must also meet the requirements of their registering body and Perfect Pets' own standards, which in some areas exceed both legislative and registering body requirements.
If you're unsure about requirements in your state, contact your registering body or the relevant government department listed above.
What this means if you're looking for a pet
These laws exist to protect animals. Understanding the legislation in your state helps you identify ethical breeders and spot red flags. Key things to check include whether the breeder displays required identification numbers (such as BIN in NSW, Source Number in VIC, Supply Number in QLD, or DACO number in SA), whether puppies or kittens meet minimum age requirements before going to their new homes, and whether the breeder can demonstrate compliance with health testing and registration requirements.
For a practical guide to checking a breeder's government-level credentials — including BIN, Source Number, and Supply Number verification — see our How to verify a breeder in Australia page.
Perfect Pets has required standards that exceed legislative minimums since 2013. By requiring Dogs Australia or cat council registration, our breeders are already bound by the health testing, breeding limits, and codes of ethics set by those bodies — on top of their state or territory legal obligations. We add a further layer of due diligence through our own breeder standards and practices questionnaire and a two-layer verification process with manual review for every breeder. See our breeder standards and practices page for full details.