ANIMAL WELFARE —
GREYHOUND RACING INDUSTRY
479. Mr
C.J. TALLENTIRE to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to bring an end to the cruel and abhorrent
practice of puppy farming and note the legislation includes the de-muzzling of
greyhounds. Can the minister outline to the house how this government's
legislation to bring an end to puppy farming will support those people who wish
to adopt or rehome a greyhound?
Mr P. PAPALIA replied:
I thank the member for his question
and his well-known love for dogs and advocacy for the welfare of dogs. I am worried about the Western Australian Liberal
Party. I am seriously worried about where it is going and its intentions.
It would appear that it has become so bereft of direction and leadership that
it has now chosen to adopt —
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP: The member for Thornlie asked the minister a question about
greyhounds, in particular the muzzling of greyhounds. I am curious about how
this has anything at all to do with the Liberal Party.
Mr P. PAPALIA: Mr Speaker —
The SPEAKER: No, I have not
ruled on it yet. Give him a chance to spread it out a bit. I would like to muzzle
some people in the chamber, but I cannot!
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P. PAPALIA: As I was
saying, I am worried about the Western Australian Liberal Party. It is so
bereft of leadership and direction that it now appears to have adopted the mindset
of opposing everything for opposition's sake, to the extent —
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER: Calm down!
Mr P. PAPALIA: — that
it has chosen to advocate on behalf of cruelty to animals as a policy
direction.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP: The imputation is that somehow the Liberal Party supports
cruelty to animals. That is not the case. I ask him to withdraw.
The SPEAKER: It is not a point
of order. Do not keep making points of order or I will call you to order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P. PAPALIA: The question
was about the Liberal Party's support or lack thereof of the puppy
farming bill, which is entirely focused on
ending cruelty to dogs, ending cruelty to animals—to ending cruelty to
puppies! In opposing the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill, the
Liberal Party of Western Australia is clearly, irrefutably and undeniably
advocating cruelty to animals. It is an extraordinary position. We did not get
here by accident. This process has been championed by the member for Maylands
for years. She began in 2015 when she established and convened a steering
committee, which comprised people from all over not just Western Australia but the world, who are advocates for better
quality standards for animal welfare. That led to the Labor Party declaring
early during the election campaign that it would commit to legislation to
counter puppy farming. We have now delivered on that legislation. There were
years of consultation.
Point of Order
Mr Z.R.F.
KIRKUP: Just one final point of order.
The SPEAKER: No, it just has
to be a point of order.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP: I am
curious about how this relates to the minister's portfolio. The
legislation is the responsibility of the Minister for Local Government, not the
Minister for Racing and Gaming.
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for Maylands,
I call you to order for the first time. It is a point of order and you of all
people should know. Double zip—or muzzle!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP: I am
curious about how this relates to the minister's portfolio, given that
it covers racing and wagering in Western Australia.
The
SPEAKER: It is about animals and
I think racing and wagering is also about animals. It is not a point of order.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP: I understand
and appreciate that response, Mr Speaker, but he is specifically referencing —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Just wait, will
you!
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP: The
minister is not responsible for the legislation he is referencing and it is not
relevant during this question time.
The SPEAKER: It is not a point
of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr P. PAPALIA: It is
extraordinary that the Liberal Party of Western Australia would advocate for
animal cruelty as opposed to supporting legislation to prevent it.
With respect to the greyhound industry, the intended outcome,
should the bill pass, is to remove the requirement that greyhounds have to be
muzzled in public, and that is absolutely central to my portfolio. I have
ministerial responsibility for greyhound racing in Western Australia. Tens of
thousands of Western Australians support removing the requirement that
greyhounds be muzzled in public. The Liberal Party is opposing that measure.
The Liberal Party supports continuing the requirement that greyhounds be
muzzled in public, against the wishes of tens of thousands of dog lovers across
Western Australia. The Liberal Party is also advocating for an environment that
supports animal cruelty through supporting puppy farming. I do not understand
why the Liberal Party is doing that. It is an extraordinary position to take.
If the Liberal Party opposes the bill, we will not be able to remove the
requirement that greyhounds be muzzled in public. They will still be required
to be on a leash. It is absolutely safe for them to be allowed in public
without a muzzle. I sought advice from the chief executive officer of Racing
and Wagering Western Australia about that very matter. The racing industry is
very comfortable that leashed dogs are quite safe, and tens of thousands of Western
Australians are also very comfortable with that requirement. They will be
appalled to hear that the Western Australian Liberal Party lacks the direction
to support such a basic fundamental objective as protecting puppies.