Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts79. Defences
(1) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this Act if the defendant establishes that the act or omission constituting the offence, or an element of the offence, was -
(a) in accordance with an adopted code of practice; or
(b) for the purpose of alleviating the suffering of an animal and was reasonable in the circumstances.
(2) It is not a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this Act that the act or omission constituting the offence, or an element of the offence, was in accordance with cultural, religious or traditional practices.