Page 1685 - Week 06 - Thursday, 13 August 1992
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MR DE DOMENICO (4.20): Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister a question. Let me preface it by saying that I am not trying to be smart. In relation to this clause I honestly want to know: What about the well-worn habit of schoolchildren dissecting frogs in scientific experiments?
Mrs Carnell: Or rats?
MR DE DOMENICO: Or rats.
Mr Stevenson: Or anything else.
MR DE DOMENICO: Or anything else. Can the Minister please tell me whether, according to clause 19, such an occurrence may not be an offence?
Mr Kaine: There is a code of practice for the use of animals for scientific purposes.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.21): Thank you, Mr Kaine.
MR HUMPHRIES (4.21): I do not really think a code is the sort of thing that is going to be applying to schools. Perhaps the Minister can enlighten us about that. There is concern about this provision because it raises another point. These sorts of things come thick and fast when you sit down and think carefully about these sorts of provisions. It does not appear to be anywhere in this Bill - perhaps the Minister can tell me where I can find it - that it is actually an offence to kill an animal. It is an offence to commit an act of cruelty on an animal, but if I were to humanely and promptly dispatch an animal I do not see that I have actually committed any offence.
Mr Lamont: The Crimes Act covers it.
MR HUMPHRIES: The Crimes Act covers it, does it?
Mr Lamont: Wouldn't it?
Mr De Domenico: Wouldn't it? "It does; wouldn't it?". Yes, wonderful.
Mr Lamont: We are both on the Legal Affairs Committee. On some issues I bow to some experience that Mr Humphries has had, and I am just saying, "Well, doesn't it?".
MR HUMPHRIES: Thank you, Mr Lamont; I am glad to hear you say that. Let me advise you that this Bill is rubbish. It needs to be fixed up. It is not in good shape.
Mr Lamont: Yes, but I have better advice which overrides that.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! Could the remarks be addressed to the Chair, please?
MR HUMPHRIES: Certainly, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: We are in the Legislative Assembly.
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