Page 879 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 16 June 1992
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The Bill also addresses the plight of the domestic pets we all enjoy. It is pleasing to have a legal framework that prevents people from neglecting their responsibilities as the custodians of domesticated animals. The Government has, in this legislation, stated clearly the minimum requirements for the care of such animals, and this reinforces the attitude that having a pet is a responsibility and a privilege, not a right. So, too, the owners of properties and those who trap animals for the purposes of feral animal control or food are also given guidelines as to acceptable practices. It is pleasing to see a ban on the use of steel-jawed traps, recognising the unnecessary agony caused by such devices.
The Government has also made quite good provision for inspectors under the Act. It seems to me only sensible to have inspectors operating at several levels, and to give these inspectors, and veterinary officers, the right to alleviate the suffering of an animal they find in distress. This, of course, was provided for in the old Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, but is enhanced within this new Bill. It is pleasing that the court's discretion to remove animals in the charge of a person convicted of an offence under the Act has been retained and widened in scope.
With my commitment to consultation well known, I also welcome the formation of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. I feel that, as the codes of practice which will operate under the Bill are developed, it is important that the highest level of input is received from the people affected. I assume that the committee will make the most of the expertise of the animal welfare groups in Canberra to ensure that the codes adequately reflect the intention of the Bill - to ensure the well-being of the animals, domestic, agricultural and native, in the ACT. As an animal lover, I am delighted that the ACT is moving to ensure that the creatures most dependent on the goodwill of our population will now also have the protection of law.
MR MOORE (10.07): Madam Speaker, I also rise with pleasure to support this comprehensive Bill. Rather than reiterating what has been said, I will just draw attention to a couple of clauses of the Bill that cause me some concern. The first of those is clause 11, which deals with the release of an animal. It states at subclause (2):
A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, fail to take adequate precautions to prevent the release of an animal from custody or control.
Subclause (3) says:
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to -
(a) the release of domestic cats;
... ... ...
I notice that Mr Wood has circulated an amendment that will change that and insert after "cats" the words "in the course of reasonable management and control". I must say that I am very pleased about that.
It seems to me that when we look at animal welfare - I have just had a chance to scan the Bill that Mr Wood tabled tonight on dog control - we should be looking at companion animal control. There are certainly a number of issues, in particular environmental issues, associated with cats and with their appropriate handling
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