Animal welfare offences
Looking at sentencing outcomes in Queensland from July 2016 – June 2018 for animal welfare offences, this research found:
- 1020 offenders were sentenced for 2416 charges
- 853 cases in Queensland where this was the most serious offence (MSO)
- 260 offenders were banned from owning animals
- 66.7% of offenders were male
- 16.2% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- the average age of offenders was 36.4 years
- 93.3% of offenders pleaded guilty
- 68.2% were fined
- the average fine given was $1,460.