COMPANION ANIMALS GREEN PAPER
Mr LYNCH: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Local Government. What has been the reaction to the announcement by the Minister of a green paper on companion animals?
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I call the honourable member for Lane Cove to order for the second time.
Mr E. T. PAGE: The Opposition obviously does not have a great deal of interest in animal welfare issues but I will continue regardless. The green paper on companion animals was released for public comment last Sunday. The paper was prepared by a working party comprising representatives of animal welfare groups, breed associations, wildlife and environmental health groups, veterinarians, government departments and the Local Government and Shires Associations. The paper has been released to allow public comment and consultation, the time for which closes on 5 July. The Government is not committed to any of the options contained in the paper. The initial reaction to the green paper has been generally supportive, but concern has been raised by some groups as to the impact on the cat population of any requirement to have cats registered, and possibly confined indoors at night in some areas.
Legislation recently proclaimed in Victoria requires cats to be registered. At present 30,000 cats and dogs are euthanised every year in RSPCA shelters around New South Wales. This is unacceptable in a civilised society. The aim of any proposal for permanent identification and registration of companion animals in New South Wales is to reduce that figure. Some 95 per cent of euthanised animals are unidentified, which means they cannot be matched with their owners. At present the vast majority of animals that stray and finish up at animal shelters in New South Wales do not have any identification on them. It is reasonable to assume that if more animals carried identification they would be returned to their owners rather than put down.
The concern of the Government for the welfare of animals is reflected in the working title of the proposed legislation: the Companion Animals Bill. Broad community support is required if legislation is to be effective. Therefore, an expert group will develop proposals, which will be advertised widely to the community. Copies of the green paper are available on request from the Department of Local Government, and bulk copies will be distributed to local councils. I urge interested persons to obtain a copy of the green paper from their local council office and to make a submission on the proposal. The Government will consider all views before it proceeds with any of the proposals. I emphasise again that the proposed legislation will not have a detrimental effect on animals.