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Local government goes to the dogsThe Bracks Government has failed to consider the financial and administrative burden its new domestic animal legislation will have on local government. By Philip Davis - 4th October 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said the Liberal Party would oppose the Primary Industries Acts (Further Amendments) Bill in Parliament because of the significant increase in costs to local government which will be required to develop animal management plans.
Mr Davis said the costs associated with developing these plans and updating them annually in every Victorian municipality would be significant and despite the Agriculture Minister’s claim that he consulted with councils before drafting the legislation, councils have advised that they were not aware of the legislation before it was introduced.
The Liberal Party will move a reasoned amendment, requesting the Bill be withdrawn and re-drafted after consultation with key stakeholders including the Municipal Association of Victoria and individual councils.
"Unlike the Bracks Government, the Liberal Party has conducted extensive consultation on this issue," Mr Davis said.
"During this process, we have found it unacceptable that extensive costs to local government had not been taken into account.
"These animal management plans will involve the provision of staff training programs, strategies and programs to promote responsible pet ownership and pet registrations, minimise risks of dog attacks and nuisance pets.
"The management plans will also involve identifying all dangerous, menacing and restricted breed dogs and ensuring they are being housed adequately and that the councils have the resources to enforce the powers of compulsory de-sexing, destroying and seizure of animals from owners who fail to comply with the Act."
Poorly drafted, the Bill also creates an obligation on councils to accept unwanted pets over the counter at their service centres, not only at designated pounds and shelters.
Mr Davis said if the Government refused the reasoned amendment, the Liberal Party would oppose the Bill outright.
"The Liberal Party is not in the habit of supporting rushed and ineffectual legislation that is so fraught with problems it will result in even more cost shifting onto local government.
"The focus of this Bill on breed specific dog laws avoids the obligation to deal with responsible animal ownership which is the primary cause of complaints about dangerous and menacing dogs.
"Labor is well known for its hopeless consultation, but a good place to start would be to consult with the local councils which will actually bare the burden of implementing these laws."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: support@gippsland.com
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