RSPCA WA inspectors operate within boundaries and constraints.   

Firstly, they are constrained by the resources available to RSPCA WA to support them in doing their job.  The announcement of a historic investment of $7 million per year will help remove this constraint and enable us to better meet community expectations. 

Secondly, RSPCA WA inspectors must work within what the legislation - the Animal Welfare Act 2002 - defines as suffering, ill treatment, and cruelty.  These definitions may not always align with how the community, or an individual defines these things. 

This is why RSPCA WA’s advocacy work is so important to help ensure that underlying legislation meets community expectation and is fit for purpose.   

Having a well-resourced enforcement function, underpinned by contemporary legislation, is the solution to meeting the community’s expectations in relation to animal welfare.  We applaud the Labor State Government’s commitment to better resource the enforcement function, and we call on the next State Government to deliver the improvements to the Animal Welfare Act as recommended by the Linda Black led independent review, back in 2019/2020.