Page 3950 - Week 11 - Thursday, 26 September 2019
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issue warnings and on-the-spot fines for minor duty of care and cruelty offences, such as failing to provide a dog with access to drinking water.
The legislation will also increase the maximum penalties for serious animal welfare abuses, including, importantly, jail terms of up to three years. Under this bill the animal welfare authority will have greater powers to refuse ownership of animals for up to six months for those people who pose a serious animal welfare risk. The authority will also be able to seize and rehome animals based on animal welfare concerns. The legislation also will enable the courts to impose permanent animal ownership bans.
Other measures include updating and improving the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee’s governance framework to allow the committee to advise the animal welfare authority and the minister on strategic and operational animal welfare and management matters. This is a practical change to ensure that our animal welfare practices are robust, evidence based and world leading.
This legislation will also make it an offence to keep an animal in a moving vehicle without proper restraint or leaving an animal in a hot car. Passers-by will also be able to legally break into a vehicle to rescue an animal at risk of serious injury or death in circumstances where all other reasonable steps have been taken, such as calling police.
I am very pleased with the introduction of a new assistance animal framework that provides for the accreditation of assistance animals. This has real benefits for Canberrans who rely on their assistance animals every day, as it will enable the act to better protect against discrimination and ensure rights of access for all assistance animals, and particularly for those that are recognised and accredited by government.
It will mean that a person who relies on an assistance animal can simply show identification to be guaranteed access to any place that the public uses. It will make it easier for our public transport operators and other premises to easily provide access for people who rely on these important companions. It also means that action can be taken if access is not provided.
I know that this is something our community has been advocating for, and I look forward to seeing the new scheme implemented. Being clear on this is important for everyone, including those who manage those spaces where these accredited animals are wanting to get access to. It means that there is no confusion for businesses and people who are all just trying to do the right thing. I look forward to widespread understanding and acknowledgement of the scheme.
The bill also sets out a framework for regulating pet businesses, including pet shops and boarding kennels, and includes provisions to address violent activities like dog fighting. Importantly, on that note, it recognises animals as sentient beings: animals that feel and perceive the world around them. Science has proven that animals are capable of feeling emotions like fear, joy and anger. They are capable of feeling pain and experience suffering. These are facts that we cannot ignore, and it is no surprise that leading jurisdictions around the world are moving towards recognising the sentience of animals in their legislation.
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