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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 751 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 24 September 2020 by Ms L.L. Baker

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

PUPPY FARMING

751. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Local Government:

I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment to the people of Western Australia at the last election that we would bring an end to the cruel and abhorrent practice of puppy farming.

(1) Can the minister tell the house if he is aware of any recent cases of puppy farming and the fraudulent behaviour involved in selling puppies?

(2) If he can, can he also outline how our legislation to stop this behaviour would work?

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied:

I thank the member for Maylands for her very important question. I want to also acknowledge her ongoing stoic advocacy for animal welfare in Western Australia. It is remarkable.

(1)–(2) Sadly, we have had more reports of the appalling practice of puppy farming. An alleged case will go before the courts that I cannot speak about in great detail. However, only in early September a man in Bellevue was charged after the police found 25 dogs, including 16 puppies, in his home. He has been charged with falsely advertising the breed of a dog and providing a false professional breeders association number. Police have had to issue updated warnings, including the one I have here, which I am happy to table, and which alerts potential buyers to fraudulent online advertisements.

As the member knows, the McGowan government went to the election in 2017 with a very clear policy to address this abhorrent practice of puppy farming. It was a very clear policy that included introduction of mandatory standards for breeders and a centralised registration system. I will come back to that because it goes to the very point of the member's question. The Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill is focused on stopping puppy farming through a transparent process, including registering breeders. It also focuses on transitioning pet shops to adoption agencies.

This chamber has already seen this legislation pass. The Labor government is absolutely committed to making sure we stop puppy farming. The opposition, however, is not—it is not supporting this legislation. Only recently, we saw an appalling example of animal cruelty to the dog Strawberry, which got a lot of media attention, and which was found in utterly appalling conditions. That goes to the very point of why we are trying to pass this legislation. We can do it before Christmas if the Leader of the Opposition stands up and talks to those in the other place and tells them that it should happen.

Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: It is coming on for debate. The Leader of the Opposition did not even make a contribution to the debate when it was in this place. The fact of the matter is that the bill can pass this Parliament into law this year, before Christmas. We will then have a centralised registration system so puppies can be traced from birth to their death. We will be able to know the dogs' registration and breeding so that dogs like Strawberry, with dead puppies in her stomach, do not die in agony. That is this example. The bill has passed this place but we know the National Party and the Liberal Party oppose it.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Members!

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Why are members opposite opposed to this important legislation, which is about the protection of animals and ensuring we have a system in place to stop this abhorrent practice? I call upon the opposition—the National Party and the Liberal Party—to read the article about Strawberry, and I table the document.

[See papers 3801 and 3802.]

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: I ask the Liberal and National Parties to read that example. That is not the only example we see of why the abhorrent practice of puppy farming must be stopped. This government is absolutely committed to stopping it. You are trying to hold it up; you are trying to stop this important legislation. I say this: be it on your heads if the Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Bill 2020 does not pass the upper house this year, because we will take it to the election and I tell you what; there is nothing more important than the protection of our pets that are loved. It is a very important issue for many people and many families. I think that if members opposite read the articles that I have tabled today, they will know in their heart and understand why we are so passionate about making sure we stop puppy farming, have a system in place that tracks a dog from its birth to its death and have a registered breeding system. It is the right thing to do. Members opposite know it. Support the legislation in the other place so we can have this law in place before Christmas.

Mr D.C. Nalder: It's so misleading.

The SPEAKER: What did you say, member for Bateman?

Mr D.C. Nalder: Misleading. We didn't oppose it in this place.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Do not worry about me. Three weeks we have been going. We have been fairly good. I knew the last day would be a bit —

Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup: Like the last day at school—terrible.

The SPEAKER: Just make sure you do not get expelled.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Come on, members; we are nearly there.