Animal welfare

Introduction

All animals in the Northern Territory (NT) are entitled to a standard level of care for their welfare, health and safety under the Animal Protection Act 2018 and Animal Protection Regulations 2022.

If you’re in charge of any animal - wild, farmed or a family pet, you must make sure they:

  • have the right kind of food, water and living conditions
  • get proper treatment if they’re sick or injured
  • are allowed to exercise and are handled appropriately
  • will not be harmed by any confinement or restraint
  • are worked, ridden or used only in ways that are appropriate:
    • not in an organised animal fight
  • are not abandoned.

The Act and regulations are managed the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade who are responsible for making sure animal owners follow these rules.

They assign welfare officers to prevent animal cruelty and ensure they’re being treated humanely as well as promote community awareness about animal welfare.


Policies and enforcements

In the Northern Territory (NT), you can be fined up to $81,000 or imprisoned for 5 years if a court finds you’ve:

Animal welfare officers

Animal welfare officers investigate offences in line with the Act and can:

  • issue direction or infringement notices
  • seize animals
  • take animal owners to court.

They will always carry an identity card.

NT Police officers also have these same powers and functions.


Welfare of livestock

The rules for animal welfare apply to people who own or work with animals.

This includes farmers, livestock transporters, livestock exporters and saleyard staff.

There are also national animal welfare standards and guidelines for transporting livestock known as the land transport standards.

If you want to make a complaint about livestock welfare, find out how to report animal cruelty or neglect to the Animal Welfare Branch.


Animal research and teaching

If you want to use animals in any kind of research or teaching in the Northern Territory (NT), you must apply for a registration.

This registration may be likely to enforce conditions in some or all of the following areas:

  • the use or welfare of animals including breeding
  • facilities and equipment for breeding animals
  • a specific code of practice.

What is classed as research

Research is defined as an experiment, procedure, test or study in which an animal is used.

It includes subjecting an animal to surgical, medical, physiological, biological, chemical or physical treatment.

When you don't need a licence

You don't need a registration if you’re in charge of animals in a child-care centre, pre-school or educational institution unless they’re used or intended to be used for scientific teaching purposes.

Before you apply

Any research work involving animals in the NT must be approved and overseen by an ethics committee.

Before you can apply for a registration, you must:

  • establish and maintain an ethics committee for the work or project or
  • make an arrangement with an existing ethics committee.

How to apply

Find out how to apply for a registration to use animals in teaching or research.

Individuals also must get permits to work in research program from the project's ethics committee.


Apply for a registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes

If you want to use animals for teaching and research in the Northern Territory, you must apply for a registration.

How to apply

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application

Fill in the application for registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes.

Application for registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes DOCX (112.4 KB)
Application for registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes  PDF (451.3 KB)

Step 2. Pay the fee

Pay the $105.41 fee over the phone or send a cheque to Receiver of Territory Monies (RTM).

To pay over the phone, call 08 8999 1628 and quote cost code 92HC1N01D and standard class 131111.

You must also ask RTM to email your receipt to animalwelfare@nt.gov.au to confirm you have paid.

To send a cheque, you must send it to:

Receiver of Territory Monies
C/- Animal Welfare Authority
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0800

Step 3. Submit application

Submit your application by mail or email to:

Animal Welfare Branch
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0800
animalwelfare@nt.gov.au

It can take up to 6 weeks for an application to be assessed if you’ve paid the fee.

It will not be refunded if your application is refused.

How your application is assessed

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade will contact your ethics committee to discuss your proposal, and may ask you for more information in the process.

The decision to approve your application will be based on:

  • the nature and purpose of the teaching or research
  • you’re ability to be a fit and proper person to hold a registration, including:
    • whether you have been found guilty of an offence under animal welfare legislation in Australia or elsewhere
  • your competence and experience in the care and handling of animals
  • the premises, equipment and other facilities
  • the adequate arrangements for veterinary treatment.

If your application is refused, the authority will provide reasons in writing.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, your registration will be mailed to you.

It will take effect on the date it’s issued and lasts for 3 years unless it's been suspended or cancelled, or you’ve surrendered it.

Conditions

You must:

  • have an ethics committee overseeing your teaching or research project
  • follow any animal welfare conditions on your registration.

Reporting

At the end of every financial year, you must report your use of animals. The authority will send you an electronic form for this.

Appealing a refusal

If your application is refused, you can appeal it to the Local Court.

Varying your registration

To vary a registration, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application.

Application for a variation of registration to use premises for teaching or research involving animals DOCX (70.8 KB)
Application for a variation of registration to use premises for teaching or research involving animals PDF (181.0 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application to the Animal Welfare Branch with a $50 application fee.

Renewing your registration

To renew a registration, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application and mark it as a renewal.

Application for registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes DOCX (112.4 KB)
Application for registration to use or allow an animal to be used for scientific purposes PDF (451.3 KB)

Step 2. Pay the fee and submit your application like how you did the first time.

When a registration is suspended or cancelled

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade may cancel or suspend your registration if:

  • you're found guilty of an offence
  • it's believed you obtained the registration improperly
  • it's believed you have failed to follow your registration conditions
  • you're believed to not be a fit and proper person to continue to hold your registration

If your registration is cancelled or suspended, you will be notified in writing.


Permits to work in research program

Organisations that conduct teaching or research programs involving animals must apply for a registration to do so.

If you’re working in these programs, you must also apply for a permit from the relevant animal ethics committee for their approval - unless you’re assisting someone who does have a permit.

If you conduct these programs without a permit, you can be prosecuted.

How to apply

To apply for a permit, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the application.

Application for a permit to conduct a teaching or research program involving the use or breeding of animals PDF (701.0 KB)
Application for a permit to conduct a teaching or research program involving the use or breeding of animals DOCX (123.3 KB)

Step 2. Submit your application to the Animal Welfare Branch.

How your application is assessed

To find out how your application is assessed, get the permit application flow chart PDF (132.1 KB).


Animal Welfare Fund grant program

Northern Territory (NT) not-for-profit organisations that work in animal welfare can apply for a grant of up to $30,000.

Applications are now open and will close Thursday February 29 2024.

The program provides funding for projects that:

  • improve animal wellbeing
  • raise community awareness of animal welfare responsibilities
  • help promote and improve animal management practice, particularly in remote communities.

You can apply for a grant if your organisation:

  • is legally registered and operates in the NT
  • is a registered not-for-profit incorporated body, co-operative or association
  • meets the Animal Welfare Fund definition of an animal welfare organisation.

Who can't apply

Individuals, private groups and NT government agencies including government schools can't apply.

If you're a local government council or unincorporated body, you can only apply if you partner with a not-for-profit organisation.

To apply for the Animal Welfare Fund grant program, go to GrantsNT.

You will be notified by mail of the outcome of your application.

If you're successful

If you're successful, you will receive an Animal Welfare Fund grant funding agreement.

You must sign this agreement and return it to the Animal Welfare Branch before you receive your grant.

You must start your project within three months of signing the funding agreement.

Acquit your funding

You must also acquit grant funding. Acquitting a grant means accurately accounting for funding.

You will receive a grant acquittal form with your funding agreement and letter of offer.

When to acquit funding

You must fill in the grant acquittal form and submit it within 30 days of the approved completion date of your project.

Contact

Animal Welfare Fund - Animal Welfare Branch
29 Makagon Road
Berrimah NT 0828
animalwelfare@nt.gov.au

GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801


Animal welfare contacts

For more information or to report animal cruelty or neglect, contact:

Animal Welfare Branch
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Berrimah Farm
Makagon Road
Berrimah NT 0828
Phone: 1300 720 386
animalwelfare@nt.gov.au


Changes to the Animal Protection Act 2018

On 1 November 2022, the new Animal Protection Regulations 2022 came into place to support the Animal Protection Act 2018.

These have replaced the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and will help to strengthen animal protection and welfare in the Northern Territory.

This includes the rights, roles and responsibilities for government, industry and the community.

What these changes mean

These changes mean:

  • tighter regulations for animal welfare and handling
  • new requirements for transporting dogs safely in vehicles
  • greater power for animal welfare officers including stronger penalties for inadequate care
  • registrations will be required to use animals for teaching or research, instead of a licence.

They aim to ensure animals are treated humanely by preventing animal cruelty and promoting community awareness on animal care and protection.

These laws also help to regulate teaching and research activities involving animals for scientific purposes.

More information

Read more about animal welfare, or find out how to report animal cruelty or neglect.