Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 3 Hansard (10 April) . . Page.. 899 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

This is, in a sense, an alternative to Ms Horodny's amendment to clause 5 and arises out of the round table discussion. It modifies Ms Horodny's proposals for consultation before orders are made. It provides that the Minister shall consult with the Flora and Fauna Committee and with the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in appropriate cases. It also places an obligation on the Minister to prepare a plan for the control of the propagation of animals or plants of the relevant class. There is also power for the Minister to prepare a code of practice under the Animal Welfare Act.

It was argued that neither of these events ought to be a condition for the making of a declaration of a pest animal or pest plant, because that would potentially result in delays before those declarations could be made. However, I acknowledge that it is appropriate for Ministers to prepare control plans as soon as possible after the declarations are made, or contemporaneously with declarations if that is possible. It may also be appropriate to prepare a code of practice under the Animal Welfare Act. Both of those are provided for in the amendment. I commend the amendment to the house.

MS HORODNY (4.06): Mr Speaker, I am happy to accept as a compromise that Mr Humphries has altered his amendment to account for the things that I wanted to see in clause 5. I still believe that it is important that when a declaration is made we have a code of practice in relation to animals that have been declared pests. I believe that that is part of the plan of control. Mr Humphries has agreed that the plan of control will be mandatory. I am pleased to see that, but I still believe that the code of practice needs to be in place as well. The declaration will be pointless, in a sense, unless there is a code that spells out very clearly what the plan of control is. The two are very closely integrated. As a first step, I will accept Mr Humphries's amendment and hope that when the control plans are put in place the Minister will choose to develop over a period of time the codes that are so important in the overall control.

MR CORBELL (4.08): I am happy that the Minister has responded to the representations that took place at the round table discussion and my initial prompting that this amendment be put in place. I am also happy with his willingness to accept some suggestions made by Ms Horodny. It is quite important that the Government have the capacity to respond quickly to a pest animal or plant. At the same time, I believe it is important that, where necessary, a code of practice be put in place. Clearly, it is not necessary in all circumstances, but I would say that in the overwhelming majority of circumstances it would be appropriate.

We believe that this amendment will allow the Minister to act decisively in responding to any threat posed by a pest plant or animal, once he has consulted the Government's Flora and Fauna Committee and the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. I hope that those committees are able to give some direction and advice to the Minister on the need or otherwise for a code of practice and that a code can be put in place, whilst still allowing the Government flexibility to respond to urgent matters and urgent threats posed by pest plants and animals. We support this amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .