Page 470 - Week 02 - Thursday, 11 February 2021
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As Mr Braddock noted, there are a number of cat containment suburbs—in fact, 17 areas have been declared catchment areas under the Domestic Animals Act—and all new suburbs will be cat containment suburbs, moving forward.
In a draft cat plan released in 2019 we sought people’s views about cat containment. While there was an understanding that one of the objectives is around expanding cat containment, there was not consensus regarding exactly how additional cat containment could be moved forward. This is an issue we will be looking at in coming months. I look forward to working with Minister Steel, in particular, in terms of how we increase cat containment across the suburbs in a way that considers animal welfare as well as the impact on the community.
MR BRADDOCK: Will the government be moving towards a territory-wide cat containment system?
MADAM SPEAKER: Earlier during question time I referred to standing order 117(c). Members need to be very mindful about seeking any announcements out of the executive.
MR BRADDOCK: Fair enough, Madam Speaker. I will change to the question to: what information assistance will be made available to cat owners during that process?
Mr Hanson: Do you get to change a question because you don’t like it?
MADAM SPEAKER: You can stand on your feet and raise a point of order or you can just be quiet, Mr Hanson.
Mr Hanson: Well, Madam Speaker, you make the rulings, and you did not seem to rule. Are you ruling it out of order or not? I am confused.
MADAM SPEAKER: I have given him grace to change his question. Ms Vassarotti, you have the floor.
MS VASSAROTTI: Thank you, Mr Braddock, for the question. As noted, we will be looking at cat containment and whether we will be increasing cat containment further in the next period. If we make any changes to the way that we manage cats, absolutely, education and support to the community will be part of that process.
Housing—funding
MR CAIN: My question is to the Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services. Minister, in January you announced that the Labor-Greens coalition government will dedicate $2.6 million for ACT homelessness services. At the time you, said that secure housing is fundamental for the wellbeing of our community as a whole. Figures from the ACT Council of Social Service indicate that 9,500 low income households in Canberra experienced rental stress in the past year. Data from Homelessness Australia and Everybody’s Home show that Canberra needs another 3,000 social housing properties to keep up with demand. Minister, what is the
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