Page 351 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 14 February 2017
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contravention of the act and is subsequently declared to be a dangerous dog. The bill does not change these rules. However, the language and structure of the provisions on seized dogs will be updated to clarify their meaning and operation.
Other amendments to the domestic animals regulations will update which decisions of the registrar are reviewable. In particular, the bill would amend the regulations so that a decision of the registrar to grant a dog licence will be reviewable. Currently only those decisions to refuse a licence can be reviewed.
Madam Assistant Speaker, these changes will provide individuals who have been aggrieved by the conduct of a dangerous dog with an opportunity to apply for a review of the registrar’s decision to grant a licence if they consider the licence should not have been granted. The Transport Canberra and City Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 makes several important amendments to the Domestic Animals Act and domestic animals regulations. I commend this bill to the Assembly.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (11.18): The Greens also have concerns about dogs and how we best regulate them. I think, as everyone has said, this is a vexed question. There have been arguments backwards and forwards on both sides, but we are happy to support the proposed increase in appeal rights for victims of dog attacks. It seems a sensible balancing of the rights of all concerned. In general, we want to keep our legislation up to date to deal with issues as they occur in the community such as dog attacks.
I understand that there will soon be an amendment proposed to this legislation talking about omitting the removal of signs element of the legislation. To avoid wasting time, I foreshadow that the Greens are happy to support that omission at this point in time and are very happy to support the rest of the bill going forwards.
MS FITZHARRIS (Yerrabi—Minister for Health, Minister for Transport and City Services and Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research) (11.19), in reply: I thank members for their support today. The Transport Canberra and City Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 makes minor and technical amendments to several pieces of legislation within the Transport and City Services portfolio. By improving operational efficiency and clarifying minor aspects of policy the bill also delivers on the government’s promise to reduce red tape.
Specifically, this bill makes minor and technical amendments to the Domestic Animals Act 2000, the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 and the Public Unleased Land Act 2013, although I understand we will be omitting the passing of a clause within the Public Unleased Land Act.
Under the Domestic Animals Regulation changes, a new item will be included in the schedule of reviewable decisions in the Domestic Animals Regulation 2000 to make it clear that a person who, or whose animal, has been attacked or harassed by a dog, is able to seek a review through the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal of the registrar’s decision to issue a dangerous dog licence.
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