Page 1697 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 9 May 2018

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(e) on 23 November 2017 three dogs entered the private property of Ms Colless of Banks and killed her pet cat;

(f) on 22 March 2018 Minister Fitzharris stated that the Government was “in the process of increasing the number of Domestic Animal Services rangers”;

(g) on 29 March 2018 with the case of the attack on Ms Colless’s cat still unresolved, I wrote to Minister Fitzharris concerning the lengthy delay in resolving the case, correspondence that has still not been answered; and

(h) on about 20 April 2018 DAS wrote in an email to a member of the public who complained about a dog issue that DAS was “understaffed”; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to provide the Assembly with a report on the staff configuration engaged in the Licensing and Compliance Branch (branch or equivalent) of Transport Canberra and City Services including the DAS, City Ranger and Licensing Sections (section or equivalent) in:

(a) each of the past three financial years to 30 June 2017, broken down by:

(i) staff levels for each section;

(ii) the classification levels of these positions in each section; and

(iii) the status of these positions including permanently occupied; and occupied by short term or contract person in each section;

(b) the period 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018, broken down by:

(i) staff levels in each section;

(ii) the classification levels of these positions in each section; and

(iii) the status of these positions including permanently occupied, occupied by short term or contract person in each section; and

(i) staff levels in each section;

(ii) the classification levels of these positions in each section; and

(iii) the status of these positions including permanently occupied, occupied by short term or contract person in each section.

I am quite happy to repeat the fact that the Labor-Greens government have for years been reluctant to address the serious and growing issue of dangerous dogs in Canberra. They have seriously underestimated the impact that uncontrolled and dangerous dogs have on our community. Last year they were dragged kicking and screaming by my colleague the late Mr Doszpot to make even minor changes to dangerous dog legislation and make commitments to properly resource patrols and investigations. Now the government have had to deal with the tragic results of their disregard for this issue.

It is now 2018 and almost every day we on this side of the chamber hear of more tragic stories caused by uncontrolled and dangerous dogs. And we continue to hear about maladministration by the government in managing the issue. Last year Minister

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