Mrs BRAHAM - 1995-10-10
In view of recent publicity over attacks by savage dogs, is any action being taken to legislate to deal with this matter?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, concern has been expressed in some areas of the Territory regarding the ability of councils to take action against animals which are involved in vicious attacks and their owners. Circumstances detailed in the media relating to a number of vicious attacks, mainly in Palmerston but also at Casuarina Beach, have highlighted the problem. Certainly, it is important that those with responsibility for the enforcement of legislation relating to the seizure and destruction of savage dogs understand clearly the powers that are available to them to take action.
I am very pleased to be able to say that, on Thursday of this week, I will be opening an animal control legislation workshop in Darwin. The aim is to discuss specifically the use of legislation, including by-laws, for the purpose of animal control in both council and non-council areas. That workshop will evaluate any shortcomings and plan any amendments that are necessary to improve the legislative provisions that are available for animal control. Those who will participate in the workshop include the police, the Palmerston Town Council, the Darwin City Council, the Katherine Town Council, the Jabiru Town Council and the Litchfield Shire Council, officers of the Department of the Attorney-General and the Department of Local Government, and representatives of the legal fraternity. Thus, there will be a wide cross-section of people who all have some involvement in this area.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mrs Padgham-Purich interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri may scoff, but it is an important area and it is one that he should have some concern about because ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: ... even his constituents are not immune to attack by savage dogs.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: If he does not have anything sensible to contribute, he might quieten down, because I am sure that the community will be interested to hear about the steps being taken ...
Mr Bailey: The community is interested in how you handled that 5 years ago.
Mr MANZIE: During the last sittings of the Legislative Assembly, I tabled a draft Local Government Amendment Bill for discussion. It relates to animal control legislation. The meeting that has been organised is to enable the public, relevant departments and groups having a specific interest in animal control to have their say about any proposals to change the legislation. I believe it is important to revisit, in general terms, the arrangements between local and Territory governments in respect of animal control. As members would know, those arrangements are that, in local government areas, animal control is the prerogative of local councils. That arrangement stems from recommendations by the Rationalisation of Functions
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Working Party which, with a view to removing administrative duplication between levels of government, recommended that that should occur. The Dog Act was reviewed in 1991. That was the legislative implementation of that recommendation for councils to have control. Animal control by-laws were introduced by most municipal councils as well as by some other councils.
Some municipalities have been very successful in preparing by-laws that enable them to control animals, to seize and destroy animals that are causing problems and prosecute their owners. Thus, I believe it is important that all those people who have experience in that area have the benefit of providing information to those who are having problems to assist them in their efforts to identify the areas of concern. We are looking at 3 main areas. The first is a clear means of allowing entry to private property. That really has to be available to council officers in relation to savage dogs. Secondly, councils must be very clear and certain about their power to destroy diseased, injured or savage animals. Thirdly, we must ensure that there is sufficient power for police to act in those areas that are not covered by the municipalities. I hope that, at the end of the process, we will be able to proceed to implement any changes that may be required to enable councils to provide maximum protection to the community.
Page 832
Page 830
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, concern has been expressed in some areas of the Territory regarding the ability of councils to take action against animals which are involved in vicious attacks and their owners. Circumstances detailed in the media relating to a number of vicious attacks, mainly in Palmerston but also at Casuarina Beach, have highlighted the problem. Certainly, it is important that those with responsibility for the enforcement of legislation relating to the seizure and destruction of savage dogs understand clearly the powers that are available to them to take action.
I am very pleased to be able to say that, on Thursday of this week, I will be opening an animal control legislation workshop in Darwin. The aim is to discuss specifically the use of legislation, including by-laws, for the purpose of animal control in both council and non-council areas. That workshop will evaluate any shortcomings and plan any amendments that are necessary to improve the legislative provisions that are available for animal control. Those who will participate in the workshop include the police, the Palmerston Town Council, the Darwin City Council, the Katherine Town Council, the Jabiru Town Council and the Litchfield Shire Council, officers of the Department of the Attorney-General and the Department of Local Government, and representatives of the legal fraternity. Thus, there will be a wide cross-section of people who all have some involvement in this area.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mrs Padgham-Purich interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: The member for Wanguri may scoff, but it is an important area and it is one that he should have some concern about because ...
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: ... even his constituents are not immune to attack by savage dogs.
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr MANZIE: If he does not have anything sensible to contribute, he might quieten down, because I am sure that the community will be interested to hear about the steps being taken ...
Mr Bailey: The community is interested in how you handled that 5 years ago.
Mr MANZIE: During the last sittings of the Legislative Assembly, I tabled a draft Local Government Amendment Bill for discussion. It relates to animal control legislation. The meeting that has been organised is to enable the public, relevant departments and groups having a specific interest in animal control to have their say about any proposals to change the legislation. I believe it is important to revisit, in general terms, the arrangements between local and Territory governments in respect of animal control. As members would know, those arrangements are that, in local government areas, animal control is the prerogative of local councils. That arrangement stems from recommendations by the Rationalisation of Functions
Page 831
Working Party which, with a view to removing administrative duplication between levels of government, recommended that that should occur. The Dog Act was reviewed in 1991. That was the legislative implementation of that recommendation for councils to have control. Animal control by-laws were introduced by most municipal councils as well as by some other councils.
Some municipalities have been very successful in preparing by-laws that enable them to control animals, to seize and destroy animals that are causing problems and prosecute their owners. Thus, I believe it is important that all those people who have experience in that area have the benefit of providing information to those who are having problems to assist them in their efforts to identify the areas of concern. We are looking at 3 main areas. The first is a clear means of allowing entry to private property. That really has to be available to council officers in relation to savage dogs. Secondly, councils must be very clear and certain about their power to destroy diseased, injured or savage animals. Thirdly, we must ensure that there is sufficient power for police to act in those areas that are not covered by the municipalities. I hope that, at the end of the process, we will be able to proceed to implement any changes that may be required to enable councils to provide maximum protection to the community.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016