ANIMAL ACTIVISM —
LEGISLATION
570. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to several commitments made
by the Attorney General on 10 April regarding plans to deter extreme animal
activist behaviour.
(1) In April, the
Attorney General stated an intent to present legislation to cabinet within two
or three weeks. It has now been eight weeks. Has legislation been presented to
cabinet?
(2) The Attorney
General also gave a commitment that legislation would be brought to Parliament
for debate well in advance of 21 November. Does the Attorney General still
intend to meet this time frame?
(3) The Attorney
General has previously stated his opposition to increasing the fine for
trespassing and the use of community-based orders; however, on 25 May, the
Attorney General told PerthNow he would seek to double the fine for trespassing
and introduce community-based orders. Why has such a significant backflip been
made?
(4) Does the
state government intend to introduce any legislative reforms to deter rural
crime beyond trespassing associated with animal activists?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) Cabinet
has approved the drafting of a bill. The new laws will be introduced to
Parliament once the legislative drafting process has been completed.
(3) There is no
intention to increase the fine for trespass simpliciter. Under the proposal,
higher penalties will apply only when the offence is committed in circumstances
of aggravation linked to interference with commercial agricultural activity. As
explained during Legislative Assembly estimates on 23 May 2019, the decision
to introduce a role for community-based orders was taken following discussion
with the State Solicitor's Office and the Department of Justice.
(4) The
government's community safety agenda operates for the benefit of all Western
Australians, including those who live in rural areas.