More: Animals are now legally recognised as 'sentient' beings in Australia - Australasia - World - The Independent (17. May 2015)The Australian Government has formally recognised animals as 'sentient' beings by amending animal welfare legislation.
The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill was passed on Tuesday.
The Act stipulates that it is now necessary to 'recognise animals as sentient' and that owners must ‘attend properly to the welfare of those animals'.