Responsibility for animal welfare is shared across the three tiers of government with each state and territory having its own animal welfare and animal cruelty legislation. Depending on the state or territory, members of the RSPCA and other charitable organisations are deputised to enforce animal welfare and animal cruelty legislation.

The Australian Sex Party recommends the establishment of national animal welfare and cruelty legislation that:

• covers wildlife, pets and livestock;
• creates a national register of animal cruelty convictions;
• prohibits individuals listed on the register from keeping animals; and
• places responsibility for the enforcement of the register and animal cruelty convictions with the police force.