Page 1962 - Week 05 - Thursday, 10 May 2018
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size of 4m2. However, after receiving industry feedback on the draft Code, the current minimum race kennel size of 3m2 will be retained in the final Code that will come into effect on 30 April 2018.
Greyhound racing—draft code of practice
Ms Fitzharris (in reply to a question and a supplementary question by Mr Parton on Wednesday, 11 April 2018):
Drafting of the Code of Practice commenced in January 2018. The first iteration drew on the draft mandatory Code of Practice which is under development in Victoria. The Victorian draft was subject to widespread stakeholder consultation and was considered to be an appropriate starting point for an ACT-specific Code.
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) provided detailed feedback on the first iteration in early February 2018. RSPCA Australia, who have worked with governments across Australia on equivalent Codes of Practice, also provided detailed feedback on the draft.
The second version of the Code was provided to a number of key stakeholders including the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club (CGRC). The original intention was for consultation to commence on 23 March 2018 and cease on 6 April 2018, however due to an unanticipated delay in sending out the request for feedback, most stakeholders including the CGRC received the draft Code on Thursday 29 March 2018. A number of stakeholders requested and were granted an extension of time to respond until 13 April 2018.
I do regret that, in practice, the GCRC had only one week to respond and that this period included the Easter break. I can assure you that this timing was not intentional and that, in the event that the CGRC had requested an extension of time, this would have been granted as it was for other organisations. However, I am pleased that the CGRC were able to provide a comprehensive submission. Their submission has influenced the final Code of Practice which will come into effect on 30 April 2018.
ACTION bus service—pets
Ms Fitzharris (in reply to a supplementary question by Ms Le Couteur on Wednesday, 11 April 2018):
The Road Transport (Public Passenger Services) Regulation 2002 states that a person cannot take an animal on a bus without the driver's permission. It is then at the discretion of the driver if there are any concerns regarding an animal being transported. Section 62 of the regulation reads as follows:
62 Carriage of animals in buses
(1) A person must not take an animal onto a bus without the driver’s permission.
Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units.
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