Page 302 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2010
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Mr Coe: How is the cat?
MR HARGREAVES: The cat is fine. In fact, I am waiting for one of those radicals over there to introduce new legislation for cats because my little orange cat, Andy, has seen off a couple of German Shepherds from my property too, I might tell you.
But I can tell you that I also had another dreadful experience—and I am sure members in this place have probably had a similar one—during the 2001 election campaign. I was in Richardson, doorknocking. You have seen this happen before. You knock on this door and all of a sudden, to the fence adjacent to the building, comes the head of a very large dog. He goes “woof” and he gets you. After I gathered my thoughts, I realised there was nobody home and I decided to leave. Out from underneath the gate came this little white Scottish terrier-looking thing and he clamped his teeth into my leg. I had to run down the road, with a little white dog hanging off my leg.
Members interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Clerk, would you stop the clock. I know that Mr Hargreaves has a very loud voice but it does not help if you guys are having a conversation with him across the chamber. Address the chair and do not engage in conversation?
MR HARGREAVES: I am, Madam Deputy Speaker. These guys are just barking mad over this. It is terrifying to be running down a road, with a little white terrier hanging off your leg, not knowing who is the owner of the thing. I can tell you, I was thinking about taking it home and using it in the toilet but I did not.
Mr Smyth: Were you reported to the RSPCA for trying to take a dog?
MR HARGREAVES: I was too busy running away from the little white terrier, Mr Smyth. I can tell you that the fact that I am a good runner is testimony to the fact that I am here.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, may I remind you to address your comments to the chair.
MR HARGREAVES: Madam Deputy Speaker, I do wish to speak in favour of the bill. The Domestic Animals Amendment Bill addresses an issue that has been identified with section 55 of the Domestic Animals Act 2000. Section 55 provides a right of compensation for injuries caused by dogs. The right to compensation has existed since the act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2000 and previously existed in the Dog Control Act 1975. The act, though, did not envisage that some members of the community would not do the right thing and provide their names and addresses to other parties. As a consequence, people are being prevented from obtaining personal information that would enable them to obtain compensation for their injury or loss—in my case a set of trousers.
New section 55A will address this gap in section 55 by allowing the Domestic Animals Registrar to disclose the personal information to a keeper of a dog, aka the
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