Arnie, a German Shepherd, tragically died after allegedly being left in a vehicle for days and later found deceased. This heartbreaking loss has deeply affected the community and exposed major gaps in Queensland’s animal protection laws.

Arnie’s Law aims to strengthen protections for companion animals by addressing weaknesses in the current legal framework - focusing on penalties for negligence, clear welfare standards, and recognition of sentience.

We Are Campaigning For:

1. Increased Penalties for Negligence - Increase the minimum and maximum penalties for cruelty and breaches of duty of care so that neglect, abandonment, and failure to seek vet treatment carry real consequences. Ensure courts have stronger sentencing options, including longer bans on animal ownership and harsher penalties for repeat or aggravated cases.
2. Clear, Legally Enforceable Standards - Establish legally defined minimum standards of care so “reasonable steps” are no longer vague. Clear standards give authorities and courts the power to properly enforce neglect and cruelty offences and stop serious cases being downgraded.
3. Recognition of Companion Animals as Sentient Beings - Amend the law to explicitly recognise that animals can feel pain, fear, distress and positive emotions. Sentience must guide how the law is written, enforced, and applied in court, ensuring penalties, prosecutions, and protections match the reality of an animal’s lived experience.

Legislation for Amendment

To implement Arnie’s Law, amendments are required to:

1. Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (QLD)

• Increase penalties (sections relating to duty of care & cruelty).
• Insert formal recognition of animal sentience.
• Authorise enforceable minimum standards for companion animals.

2. Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2023 (QLD)

• Specify minimum standards for nutrition, shelter, vet care, containment, enrichment, and protection from harm.

3. Criminal Code Act 1899 (QLD)

• Strengthen aggravated cruelty provisions and sentencing frameworks, including lifetime animal ownership bans.

Milestones

We met with the Attorney General on 10 June 2026 to discuss the above and they have agreed to take into consideration the following;

• Updating the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and Criminal Code to include penalties for animal sexual abuse, animal abuse material, prohibition orders and the broader framework. 
• Broader review of the DPI prosecution framework.

On 16 June 2026 we formed our new Companion Animals Working Group (CAWG), this group have been researching in the background, reaching out to shelters & rescues, going through legislation and documents and speaking with relevant people from industries that concern animals. The decided first focus of this group is bringing sentience into legislation - watch this space for more updates. 

The Working Group has continued to examine broader issues affecting animal welfare enforcement, including the decline in animal cruelty convictions since oversight transitioned from the RSPCA to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). We have backed a petition signed by OVER 9,322 Queenslanders, demanding real accountability and urgent action for animal cruelty prosecutions. The petition can be viewed here and will be tabled in the 25 August 2026 sitting: Parliamentary Petition: Reinstate RSPCA QLD’s prosecution powers

• This is a system failing animals and our community.
• We are calling for an independent audit of the Department of Primary Industries’ enforcement capacity and accountability
• We are also pushing for transparent and urgent government action to protect animals from falling through the cracks
• We have reached out to Rebecca Young, MP for Redlands, to ask her to stand with Arnie’s memory and all local animals by being a strong, proactive voice in Parliament. You can read the letter here.

On the 15 August 2026 we requested that the Queensland Audit Office consider a performance audit of DPI's effectiveness as Queensland's animal welfare regulator, including its enforcement and prosecution functions.

We suggest an audit consider:

• Whether DPI's animal welfare enforcement function is achieving its intended outcomes;
• The impact of the 2022 changes on enforcement and prosecution pathways;
• Whether DPI has sufficient resources, staffing, expertise and capacity to perform its regulatory role;
• How DPI determines which matters warrant enforcement action or prosecution;
• The effectiveness and consistency of DPI's prosecution decision-making and referral pathways;
• The relationship between DPI investigations, enforcement actions, charges and prosecutions;
• Whether DPI is effectively utilising specialist animal welfare expertise available through RSPCA Queensland and other agencies;
• How DPI's enforcement performance is measured, monitored and publicly reported;
• Whether current performance measures adequately assess the effectiveness of the regulatory system;
• The respective roles and capacity of DPI, RSPCA Queensland and QPS following the 2022 changes; and
• Whether the current model represents an effective and sustainable approach to animal welfare enforcement in Queensland.

How You Can Help

Ask your State MP to push for a prosecution review 

Data obtained through publicly available information and Right to Information requests demonstrates a substantial change in the source of animal welfare charges following these reforms. In 2021, RSPCA Queensland preferred 108 charges, QPS 114 and DPI 1. By 2025, RSPCA-preferred charges had fallen to zero, QPS-preferred charges had increased to 153, while DPI-preferred charges were only 6. RSPCA-preferred charges fell from 108 in 2021 to 46 in 2022, 3 in 2023 and zero in both 2024 and 2025.

Key Points to Raise:

• Over 9,000 locals want real accountability, not just another review.
• Prosecutions have plummeted since DPI took over.
• We need an independent audit of DPI’s enforcement capacity, and urgent interim action so animals don’t fall through the cracks.

How to send your email

1. Use the Correct Title
2. Introduce Yourself and your Issue
3. Keep it Brief
4. Use your Own Words
5. Be Polite
6. Tell Them What you Want Them to Do
7. Provide your Contact Details
8. Be Patient
9. Follow Up

You can also continue to sign the petition for Arnie's Law

(Started by community members, not managed by AJP)

Follow this link: https://www.change.org/p/introduce-arnie-s-law-stronger-penalties-for-crimes-against-pets

What Other States Are Doing - Keep up Queensland!

Other states across Australia are already moving toward stronger, more modern animal welfare laws. Arnie’s Law would bring Queensland in line with these emerging national standards.

ACT - Recognising Sentience

The ACT became the first jurisdiction to legally recognise animals as sentient beings in 2019.
You can read more about it here.

Victoria - Updating Its Animal Welfare Framework

Victoria is progressing a major update to its animal care laws, including recognising animal sentience and introducing clearer care standards.
Georgie Purcell and The Animal Justice Party contributed a 42-page submission to this consultation and provided 64 recommendations. 
You can read more about it here and on the AJP Victoria website.

South Australia – Modernised Laws Including Sentience

South Australia’s recent reforms include explicit recognition that animals can think and feel.
AJP supporters added their voice through the consultation and advocacy process.
You can read more about it here and on the AJP South Australia website.

NSW – Modernised Laws Including Sentience

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Animal Sentience) Bill was presented but unfortunately lapsed at prorogation in 2023. Since then, Emma Hurst and the Animal Justice Party have championed modern animal welfare reforms, including supporting recognition of animal sentience, closing legal loopholes, and improving enforcement.
You can read more about it here.

This also links to our national Animal Justice Party position on companion animals - Companion Animals - AJP National

Resources:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-20/qld-man-charged-for-leaving-dog-in-car/106031602

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/the-grey-valley-backstreet-where-arnie-died-in-his-owners-black-ute-20251121-p5nhge.html

https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/news/2025/11/20/update-1-stolen-vehicle-and-family-dog-appeal-wynnum/