The NSW Government is answering strong public support for tougher animal welfare laws by updating legislation for the first time in 45 years.
RSPCA NSW reported over 500 cases of dogs being left in cars, including cases in the Newcastle and Hunter region.
New legislation, introduced to Parliament on Thursday 7 May, will make it illegal to leave a dog unattended in a hot car in NSW.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026 gives enforcement more power to ensure the legislation meets community expectations.
Among the changes is a new offence making it illegal to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle for more than 10 minutes if the temperature is over 28 degrees outside.
This also applies to restraining a dog on a metal Ute tray under the same conditions.
Punishment is severe, fines of up to $44,000 will apply to offenders.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said these changes should improve animal safety.
“We are continuing with our work by updating the legislation, so it strengthens protections for animals, closes loopholes that have frustrated enforcement,” says Minister Moriarty.
“It brings our state into line with other states on key animal welfare issues.”
Additional reforms include tougher animal fighting laws, the penalties of which range from $5000 to $110,000, as well as imprisonment of six months to two years.
The legislation will also prohibit the possession and use of prong collars on dogs.
Nearly 7,000 submissions from community members and stakeholder groups, gathered through previous NSW Government consultations and parliamentary inquiries, were considered as part of the changes.
The reforms also address animal welfare issues in the wider agricultural sector, specifically trade issues regarding sheep mulesing.
While pain relief for mulesing is voluntarily occurring across most of the industry, this Bill makes it mandatory across the sector.
This legislation is the latest in a suite of reforms the NSW Government has introduced to ensure laws are staying up to date with modern welfare standards.
The changes have been coordinated with Animal Welfare agencies such as RSPCA NSW and the Animal Welfare League.
This legislation is among additional changes which targets animal harm.
This includes preventing offenders from working with animals, a ban on puppy farms and an increase in funding for approved welfare charities.
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