ANIMAL WELFARE AMENDMENT BILL 2004 Second Reading Speech

Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

ANIMAL WELFARE AMENDMENT BILL 2004

(This an uncorrected proof of the daily report. It is made available under the condition that it is recognised as such.)

Bill presented and read a first time.

Mr AH KIT (Local Government): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill now be read a second time.

Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to introduce the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill 2004 into the House. The Animal Welfare Act came into effect on 27 March 2000 and there have been a number of relatively minor amendments since that time. Animals are an essential part of our societal structure. They play an important part in our physical, emotional and economic wellbeing. Animals provide significant companionship for many people of all ages. They interact with people in many recreational and sporting fields. There is a concomitant responsibility upon us to ensure that the welfare of animals is well provided for. Coupled with this is a requirement to promote public awareness of best practices for the care and management of animals.

The objectives of the legislation are spelt out in Section 3 of the act. Namely, to ensure that animals are treated humanely, to prevent cruelty to animals, and to promote community awareness about the welfare of animals. The legislation has a broader scope than just preventing cruelty to animals. Their welfare, their overall care and wellbeing is the focus of the act.

Two issues with respect to animal welfare have recently emerged as national issues, namely, the tail docking of dogs and horse firing. At the Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting in October 2002, the Ministerial Council agreed in principle to the introduction of a national, state and territory ban on the routine tail docking of dogs for cosmetic purposes. The main elements of the proposed ban are that non-therapeutic tail docking of dogs born after a specified date would be prohibited, and only a veterinarian could carry out therapeutic tail docking of dogs. The Territory agreed to adopt the ban on tail docking for cosmetic purposes and advised the Primary Industrial Ministerial Council of the Northern Territory’s position on 30 June 2003.
The proposed amendment to Section 9(1)(a) of the act will make it quite clear that the tail docking of a dog less than five days old is no longer permitted under the act. Section 9(2) of the current act allows an veterinarian to perform a procedure that is proscribed in Section 9(1) of the act, if the veterinarian is of the opinion that it is reasonable and necessary to do so. This will allow a veterinarian to dock the tail of a dog if it is deemed necessary for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes only.

Clause 5 of the bill repeals Regulation 3 of the Animal Welfare Regulations which prescribe the conditions relating to tail docking under former Section 9(1)(a). With a ban on tail docking these provisions are no longer necessary.

The additional amendment to the Animal Welfare Act is to ban on the practice of horse firing in the Northern Territory. The federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, on the advice of the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare, advised the states and territories on the recent development regarding the practice of horse firing. The practice is undertaken primarily in the horseracing industry and involves a hot iron being placed on a horse’s leg to create an inflammatory response to encourage healing of a damaged tendon or tendon sheath. The practice causes unnecessary suffering and is not an effective treatment.

The matter was referred to the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee for consideration and to the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing for advice. Both the AWAC and the Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing have indicated support for the proposal to ban the practice of horse firing in the Northern Territory. The horse racing industry advised that they are unaware of the practice of horse firing in the Northern Territory, and that the Australian Rules of Racing state that a horse that has been subjected to a firing procedure in Australia is ineligible to race. I commend the bill to honourable members.

Debate adjourned.

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