Minister Heydon Introduces Dog Breeding Bill 2026 to Combat Puppy Farms

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon is presenting the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2026 to Cabinet today. This legislation aims to tackle puppy farms, which are commercial dog-breeding operations often characterized by large numbers of dogs bred in poor conditions.

The Bill proposes several new measures, including lower limits on litter numbers, minimum and maximum breeding age limits, and minimum staffing ratios for breeding females at commercial establishments. It also sets a minimum age for pups before sale and outlines conditions for showing them to customers. Enforcement tools will be strengthened with seizure powers and increased fines for offenders.

Minister Heydon stated the legislation supports responsible breeders by distinguishing compliant operations and updates the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 to meet modern animal welfare standards. He noted it targets sales practices leading to poor outcomes for pups, such as third-party sales after separation from their birth premises, and aims to give consumers greater confidence by ensuring they can see where and how a dog was reared.

Social Democrats Agriculture Spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore welcomed the progress but emphasized the importance of details, advocating for a cap on breeding females and strict regulation of conditions. The reforms are based on existing guidelines, stakeholder recommendations, and best practices from other jurisdictions.