The Council meets to formulate new policies and offer advice to government and industry bodies on animal welfare issues.

Although no formal link exists between the RSPCA in both countries it is the UK experience that led to the formation of societies in the Australian colonies.

The intellectual climate of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century in Britain reflected opposing views that were exchanged in print concerning the use of animals.

The harsh use and maltreatment of animals in hauling carriages, scientific experiments (including vivisection), and cultural amusements of fox-hunting, bull-baiting and cock-fighting were among some of the matters that were debated by social reformers, clergy, and parliamentarians.

[8] In 1821 some sympathetic support for Martin's legislative work was centred around the efforts of Reverend Arthur Broome (1779-1837)as he had letters published in periodicals in which he canvassed for expressions of interest in forming a voluntary organisation to promote animal welfare and oppose cruelty.

Among the others who were present as founding members were Sir James Mackintosh MP, Richard Martin, William Wilberforce, Basil Montagu, John Ashley Warre, Rev.

George Avery Hatch (1757–1837), Sir James Graham, John Gilbert Meymott, William Mudford, and Lewis Gompertz.

[14] Early concerns about the maltreatment of animals were expressed in newspaper articles and letters from correspondents in the colony of NSW in the first decade of the nineteenth century.

[15] The earliest piece of colonial legislation that carried penalties for some forms of cruelty toward animals was passed in Tasmania (then called Van Dieman's Land) in 1837.

[40] During the twenty-first century a widespread public debate, which has included the RSPCA Australia as a participating voice expressing alarm, about the cruel treatment of animals is in the live export trade.

The award was named after the Purple Cross Society, which was established during the First World War to provide equipment for the Light Horse Brigade.

It is governed by a board of eight directors; the present President of RSPCA Victoria is Dr Hugh Wirth AM KGSJ who has held the position since 1972.

[58] During his time as a member of the NSW Legislative Council, Sir Alfred Stephen attempted on four occasions to pass an animals protection bill.

[60] The RSPCA Queensland was originally created at a public meeting held on Monday 11 September 1876 in Brisbane's Town Hall and was chaired by Rev.

[61] However its activities were short-lived and a fresh attempt to restart the Society occurred at a public meeting on Friday 24 August 1883 which included the Brisbane mayor Mr Abram Robertson Byram, four Christian clergymen (Rev.

[66] The Society was created at a public meeting on 19 July 1878 chaired by Governor Frederick Weld (1823–1891) and other prominent figures included Sir James Milne Wilson (1812–1880) and the Anglican Dean of Hobart Rev.

[68] IMPORTANT: RSPCA Inspectors gather information to present to courts in order to prosecute owners and receive legal authorisation to confiscate mistreated animals.

RSPCA in South Australia was created in 1875 through the collaborative efforts of politicians, public officials, Christian clergy and churchgoers, and members of the Jewish community.

A public meeting was convened at the Adelaide Town Hall on 6 December 1875 that was chaired by the mayor Sir John Colton (1823–1902) who was a renowned philanthropist and a prominent active member in the Wesleyan Methodist church.

[74] In 1968 the work of the RSPCA was featured in a television film that was produced by former police prosecutor Bill Davies and was broadcast on channel 9 as a way of inviting children to participate in the Society's junior branch.

[76] RSPCA Western Australia was established on 2 August 1892 as the West Australian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), by the members of a women's reading circle.

[81] The CEO of RSPCA ACT resigned several days before, unrelated to the issue, but publicly defended his legacy and stated it was simply a small number of disgruntled employees.