New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been urged to tackle “pathetic” gaps in bestiality legislation, as only three states currently prohibit materials depicting acts of animal abuse.
While bestiality itself is illegal nationwide, only New South Wales, Western Australia, and Tasmania have laws banning the possession, distribution, and production of bestiality-related materials.
NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst criticized these legislative shortcomings, saying they prevent authorities from convicting offenders of these horrific crimes.
Ms. Hurst, who advocated for tougher laws in NSW, has called for amendments to the Commonwealth Criminal Code to create offenses for using carriage services to possess, produce, or share animal sexual abuse materials within or beyond Australia.
She also recommended establishing a federal taskforce to target offenders involved in such crimes.
“Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must ensure our laws protect both children and animals,” she told NewsWire.
“While NSW is making promising legislative progress, significant gaps remain nationwide. Given the seriousness of these offenses, urgent federal legislation is needed and should be a priority for the new Attorney-General.”
Ms. Hurst cited the case of Northern Territory man Adam Britton, who received a 10-year, five-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to 60 charges including bestiality, animal cruelty, and possession of child abuse material in August 2024.
However, authorities could not charge him for creating or distributing bestiality materials due to the absence of relevant laws in the Northern Territory.
“There is no law in the NT banning distribution of such materials, so although he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,” she said.
Kathryn Jurd, general counsel for RSPCA NSW with eight years prosecuting related cases, stressed that variations in state laws should not prevent law enforcement from charging offenders appropriately.
“When law enforcement uncovers these heinous crimes, they need to be able to charge in ways that fully reflect the offender’s actions and what evidence proves,” she said.
Highlighting the severity of cases involving animal sexual abuse materials, she noted recurring elements such as the presence of children in the footage and perpetrators also possessing child sexual abuse material.
“Those who create animal sexual abuse material don’t respect state borders, and such content is often intended for global distribution,” she said.
“Most people would back national consistency, especially on an issue where strong criminal laws have widespread support across Australia.”
While Ms. Rowland declined to comment on Ms. Hurst’s calls, stating it is a state matter, new shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser expressed conditional support for stronger laws.
“Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,” he said.
“If the Albanese government moves to introduce national legislation prohibiting the creation, possession, and distribution of bestiality materials, I believe we would generally support it in principle.”
