PUPPY FARMING —
WORKING DOGS
602. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Local Government:
(1) Does the
minister believe that farmers in Western Australia should have exemptions
and/or special provisions for working dogs under the proposed puppy farming
legislation, similar to the Victorian legislation?
(2) How many
prosecutions have there been in WA in the last five years against dog breeders
who have committed acts of cruelty that the proposed legislation will seek to
reduce?
(3) How many of
these instances were able to avoid prosecution due to the inadequacies of
current legislation?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. I am going to see whether in respect of the second part of the member's
question I can get some more information for him, but I will give him what I have
to date.
(1) Submissions
closed on 3 August 2018, following a three-month consultation period. This
matter is currently under consideration.
(2)–(3)
Cruelty against animals is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2002. The
Minister for Agriculture and Food is responsible for that legislation, so
between us we will have a conversation and I will see whether we can get the
member the information about the prosecutions.