Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 25 September 2024.)

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (11:29): Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that I am the lead speaker for the opposition on this bill. I would also like to thank the Deputy Premier, her staff and the staff of her department for organising briefings in relation to this bill and other bills at very short notice. I was appointed to this role a fortnight ago, so I have had a short amount of time to get across these bills in detail. I thank them for doing everything they could to make that work. I look forward to working with the Deputy Premier, her staff and the department going forward in this role.

I will speak very briefly on this. I was just looking at the media today and noticed that there has, sadly, been a dog attack on a nine month old. My thoughts are very much with that family in relation to that attack. It is certainly very distressing when we hear of these things and it just reminds us of the risk that particularly dogs can pose with families and with others in the way they sometimes react and sometimes attack when it is not necessarily expected. Our thoughts are with that particular family. The opposition very much supports this legislation and we are happy to see its very quick passage. With those few words, I thank you for the opportunity to speak.

The SPEAKER: Congratulations to the member for Finniss on his elevation into the shadow cabinet.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (11:31): I rise today in support of the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024, legislation that fulfils our government's election commitment to eradicate puppy factories and prevent such cruel operations from establishing themselves in South Australia.

I will start by telling you the story of Bowdee. Bowdee is my blue heeler cross that has brought so much joy to my family. I rescued Bowdee from the Moorook Animal Shelter out north after seeing her and her sister on the Facebook page. I had every intention of actually bringing them both home because they were both very cute; however, by the time I went to pick up Bowdee her sister had already gone.

Bowdee had clearly been through some trauma and was timid and shy. She came home with me and after a few days of working out that she was now safe she sprang to life. She has since brought our family so much joy. She is funny, sometimes very naughty, and highly unpredictable, but she is very smart.

One day I was scrolling through Facebook and I saw a lost dog post. I could see a strong resemblance to Bowdee and I asked if the missing dog had a tail. This sounds a bit strange, but Bowdee is a stumpy tail blue heeler, so she does not have the benefit of telling other dogs how she is feeling and neither did this dog.

The owner, who was very worried about her dog, Poppy, was very defensive about her dog's tail and revealed that Poppy also had no tail and after chatting we worked out that it was, in fact, Bowdee's sister that was missing. Fortunately, Poppy was found and we arranged a meet-up for the two dogs to let them do their thing and we talked about how we were really pleased that we were able to rescue these dogs. That was eight months on, so they sort of knew each other and had a good time. Poppy moved to Darwin, sadly, but I hope she is still bringing her owners joy up there.

As you can probably tell, I love my dog and I cannot understand how anyone could think to harm a dog whose sole existence is to please his owner or her owner. It is terrible that people seek to exploit dogs to make money, mating them to a point of sheer physical exhaustion and then dumping them when they can no longer produce their cute little puppies.

I am here in support of this bill because the inhumane practice of puppy farming needs to be stamped out. We need to have better laws to protect our animals and to stop the exploitation and profiteering at all costs that we see from dodgy puppy farms.

This bill represents a significant step forward in ensuring that the standards governing the commercial breeding of companion animals in our state are at least as strict as any other jurisdiction in the nation. By doing so, we remove an incentive for unscrupulous operators to move here and establish their inhumane operations.

At the heart of this bill is a new breeder licensing scheme. This scheme will require the breeders to adhere to strict standards for breeding, impose limits on the number of female animals per breeding program and restrict the number of litters that may be bred by each licence holder. Additionally, we are introducing mandatory reporting of each litter. These measures effectively outlaw large-scale, inhumane puppy farms that increase the risk of animal cruelty. In doing so, we are bringing South Australia into line with Victoria, currently the strictest jurisdiction for breeding programs in the nation.

Under this new scheme, applicants will have to apply for licences and will be denied if they are convicted of relevant offences. We are introducing fines of up to $10,000 for breeding animals without a licence or contravening licence conditions. Furthermore, we will have the ability to suspend and cancel breeder licences.

This bill also addresses another critical issue that has, sadly, been in the public eye, which is dog attacks. This bill significantly increases fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. If a dog attacks a person or another animal causing serious injury or death, the owner will now face a maximum fine of $25,000, a tenfold increase on the current $2,500 penalty. If the attacking dog was already subject to a dangerous dog order, the fine would increase to $50,000, up from $10,000.

We are also introducing the new 'wandering dog' order to manage dogs that continually escape. Dogs escape for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes they just want to take themselves for a walk, but quite often it is because they are stressed at night-time when people decide to set off fireworks or there are fireworks celebrating special events. No matter how many times we encourage people to bring their dogs inside, they may not be home or they may not heed the warnings and off go the dogs and up come all the Facebook posts of the lost dogs—and quite often it is the same lost dogs.

We all need to take personal responsibility for these beautiful animals that we are allowed to look after. The wandering dog part of this bill will allow the recognition of certain interstate orders and make sure that the owners take reasonable steps to prevent their dogs from escaping and to attend training where appropriate.

Moreover, this bill allows for the recognition of certain interstate orders. The minister will now have the power to recognise interstate dangerous dog orders and prohibition orders. This amendment aims to proactively manage risks identified in other jurisdictions without having to wait for an attack or an incident to occur.

In addition to these key reforms, the bill includes several other important amendments. We are ensuring that the operation of the online registration system, Dogs and Cats Online, is accurately reflected within this legislation. Dogs and Cats Online makes sure that if your dog goes missing they are chipped, they are registered and they can be found very quickly.

I was really fortunate when I was looking after my mother-in-law's dog at one stage. He was a little stressed, she was in hospital—actually, I was not looking after him, my sister was—and he disappeared. I had a call from the council telling me that they had my mother-in-law's dog. Fortunately, he was registered, not only with council but also with Dogs and Cats Online, so we were able to get to him very quickly and they very graciously gave him back without any further issues.

The bill does include explicit provisions for sharing information, particularly where there is a risk of harm to animals, making sure that we are able to get the information we need when dogs or cats are needing to be controlled. Plans of management relating to dogs and cats will be changed to allow councils to incorporate their dog and cat management planning with other operational planning, simplifying processes and improving clarity for the community.

We are removing the requirement for retired racing greyhounds to wear a muzzle, consistent with the approach in other states. This will reduce barriers to greyhound adoption. I know several families within my community who cherish their greyhounds—fur babies who are the most beautiful dogs and will benefit from not having to wear a muzzle. I make a special shout-out to the beautiful Shirley who always pops by my office for a cuddle with her mum, Helen. She is the most beautiful dog and I cannot imagine her ever needing a muzzle, and it is really good to know that this has now been removed.

We are also changing several definitions to clarify ambiguities, adding new definitions as required and addressing other minor issues to ensure the effective operation of the act. This bill represents a significant step forward in animal welfare and public safety in South Australia. It demonstrates our commitment to protecting not only our beautiful pets but also our communities. By introducing strict breeding regulations, we are ensuring that companion animals are bred in humane conditions. By increasing penalties for dog attacks and introducing new measures, we are managing dangerous dogs and prioritising public safety.

The legislation does strike a balance between supporting responsible pet ownership and breeding, while cracking down on those who would exploit animals or endanger public safety. I commend the bill to the house.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (11:39): I also rise to support this bill, the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024, legislation that this government introduces to lift commercial breeding standards and outlaw large-scale puppy farms. Anyone who knows me even a little bit would know that I am an absolutely dog-crazy pet lover and so I was extremely proud at the 2022 election to be part of a Labor government that made a commitment to ban puppy factories and to prevent operations from setting up their businesses here in South Australia.

The premise for this commitment was simple: as humans, we value companionship, and for approximately 40 per cent of South Australians that companionship, at least in part, is provided by a pet dog. But when demand outstrips supply, it presents an opportunity for new operators to enter the market in search of a quick buck. Unfortunately, the motivation of some breeders is purely financial—not for the wellbeing of the dogs, not for the families who stand to benefit from the joy a pet dog born into a loving environment would bring.

We have heard the horror stories: dirty and overcrowded factories, some in plain sight, some underground, established only to breed as many puppies as possible for the lowest cost and highest return. Those poor mother dogs are just required to produce litter after litter after litter. This is greed, pure and simple, and we are doing something about it.

Already, we have had an opportunity to debate amendments to the Animal Welfare Act, and in my contribution I referenced how animal-specific pieces of legislation need to interact with one another to ensure we are achieving the best possible outcomes. The changes that we propose to South Australia's Dog and Cat Management Act are just one example of this government's multifaceted approach to real and lasting animal welfare reform.

We want to do and see better and, because there is no silver bullet, we are doing the hard work, combing through all of the relevant legislation and looking for every possible improvement. We are consulting with the communities that we represent and taking their feedback onboard and progressing the necessary change because that is what a good government does.

The Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill brings South Australia's laws in line with those of Victoria, being the strictest in the nation where breeding programs are concerned. What we propose is a new breeder licensing scheme, a cap on the number of female animals in each breeding program, and mandatory reporting on each litter. Any applicants convicted of any animal welfare offence can expect to have their request for a licence denied. Fines of up to $10,000 will apply for breeders without a licence or those found to be in breach of licence conditions.

There are a handful of breeders in my electorate who do the right thing and I have spoken with them about this bill and they are welcoming it because they know that they are working really hard to do the right thing and it is extremely disappointing for them to see other groups out there who continue to do the wrong thing. These steps that we are applying are not unreasonable for a government to take, and that is supported by commentary that we received during public consultation, which included 334 YourSAy responses, 123 written submissions and 24 contributions from the local government sector.

Despite its title, it is important to note that this bill captures more than just breeder reforms; it addresses an alarming increase in reported dog attacks and the number of dogs that we see wandering at large. Recently, a gentleman by the name of Craig visited my office to tell me about his beautiful dog, Paddy. About 12 months ago, Paddy was attacked by two dogs while out walking on his lead. The dogs that attacked were on leashes as well but their owner was still unable to appropriately restrain them, leaving Craig to defend Paddy by himself.

Fortunately, Paddy survived and has recovered well, but only after an extremely traumatic ordeal for both Paddy and Craig and a huge vet bill that followed. What is most disappointing is that the owner of the attacking dogs chose not to identify himself, leaving Craig both out of pocket and looking for answers. Sadly, the council was not in a position to release the details either.

It is true that owners have a responsibility to their dogs, but they also have a responsibility to the broader community, and that is why we are increasing penalties associated with dog attacks and other safety offences. Currently a $2,500 fine, this bill proposes increasing penalties for dog attacks on another animal or person resulting in serious injury or death to a maximum of $25,000. In the event the attacking dog is the subject of a dangerous dog order, the maximum penalty will be a fine of up to $50,000, representing a $10,000 increase on the penalty as it stands today. These are steep increases, I know, but strong deterrents are required if we want to ensure the public safety of people and animals.

Let this be a reminder to all dog owners, even the good ones, that now is the time to take stock of how you are managing your dogs. Check their leashes, make sure you can appropriately restrain them if you need to and consider accessories that might help prevent attacks without causing your dog any discomfort, because that should be avoided too. Do what you can to keep yourself, your dog and the rest of our community safe.

One last point that this bill addresses, and one that I know will be of interest to passionate greyhound lovers Ross Schurgott and Steve Maguire from my local Happy Valley Football Club, is the rule for retired greyhounds to wear a muzzle out in public. We know retired greyhounds undergo a significant assessment process before they are placed for adoption and ready to move into their forever homes, and that the use of a muzzle, as the RSPCA suggests, should be considered against the behaviour of each individual dog. So we are removing that requirement and, of course, while we ask that owners exercise their best judgement, I cannot wait to see their smiling faces up a little bit closer because greyhounds really are some of the most gorgeous creatures going around.

A shout-out to Will in my team of Davenport who last weekend at the Happy Valley footy club adopted a retired greyhound, Remy, who will be joining their family this Friday. I hope Remy becomes a regular in my office also. Another addition to the Davenport family is a pup that I rescued from the RSPCA just a couple of weeks ago. His name is Ollie. He is a Lab x staffy. He is still a puppy, so he is still very bitey and learning lots of lessons, but it has been a really fantastic experience working with the RSPCA to choose a dog that needed a forever home.

I would encourage anybody who is thinking about finding a new furry family member to think about adopting one that needs help, rather than looking for a breeder. The RSPCA on Majors Road in my electorate of Davenport does an incredible job and there are some beautiful souls up there looking for homes right now, so if you have a chance I would encourage you to visit. You can also hop on to the RSPCA website and trawl through the profiles of not just dogs but beautiful cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and all creatures great and small, so I would certainly encourage you to do that.

I am so pleased to form part of a government that is prioritising the emotional and physical health of not just dogs but animals more broadly, and I trust my community will be as pleased as I am to see this change enacted. With that, I commend the bill to the house.

Ms PRATT (Frome) (11:47): I happily rise to add my contribution to the conversation today on the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill. The house is reflecting on our own personal connections to dogs and cats. My family has never not known a border collie to be part of the extended family; in fact, you would be surprised to discover a farming family without a dog and it forms part of the kitchen table conversation, really, to reflect on all the dogs that we remember.

I have fond memories of my grandpa, Reg Michael of Barunga Gap, who became known quite widely in the region as a good breeder of his own litters of working dogs. He was one of those types of farmers who understand the right puppy for the right farmer and the capacity to train and breed a working dog. They are essential services in our farming communities. The family reflections are fond. As grandchildren, we kicked around in the caravan as my grandpa travelled the state and in my own backyard, whether it was Hamley Bridge or Stockport or all the way out to the Riverland to the Barmera dog trials—they still continue and may they do so forevermore.

The dog-trial family is quite connected, and Anthony Ireland is someone who comes to mind as a younger farmer who approached my grandpa for one of his pups. You see those connections through farmers continue but also the blood line of those purebred dogs. If you have not worked out yet, Mr Speaker, I am a big border collie fan to the point where I have my own border collie: a black-and-white, long-haired Reggie. She is a she Reggie—a Regina—but named after my grandpa Reg, and she is much loved. We both have a bit of condition on us after a summer full of cheese and Christmas pudding, but where would we be without our pets?

In reflecting on our connection to dogs, yes, they are wonderful fur babies, fur friends, and they are part of our households at the domestic level but, at the farming level, they are a critical resource. It is no surprise that we often hear that farmers who appreciate the value of a good dog will pursue them to no end. A good dog is the equivalent, perhaps, of two sloppy farmhands or fellas who do not quite know how to work as hard as a farm dog.

My grandpa's farming property in Snowtown/Barunga Gap was very hilly and part of the Hummock Range, and we wish we had vision now of him being able to whistle the dog off the back of the ute, send it over the hills out of sight, and we would sit on the back of the ute chucking stones to find that a couple of whistles later that dog had done the work of four farmers on quad bikes. Those sheep came back with one dog in tail.

Before I move on to the legislation, I want to put on the record how important dogs are to farming communities. They are certainly worth the crumble that they are fed. A record was set last year in 2024, up in Rockhampton as I understand it, where Liz the border collie was purchased for $40,000. Previously, I think the record set was in 2018 for a kelpie purchased at $22,000. Why are these significant? Because a farmer would argue that, while a dog might cost them up to $8,000 a year in feed and vet bills and care, that is not at all equivalent to what a worker might cost. So farmers will argue a good dog is the replacement of two farmhands.

The reflections in the chamber today certainly reflect on the reform that has come through this amendment bill. On behalf of the opposition, and on behalf of my community, I certainly welcome reform that ends or imposes fines on the repulsive practice of puppy farming. They have no place. But today I am prompted to represent my community in perhaps a different way and that is, in particular, representations and advocacy that I can bring to the chamber on behalf of the Adelaide Plains region. That encompasses Two Wells, Lewiston, Mallala, Dublin, Reeves Plains and other communities where there is a really strong, happy, vibrant, healthy dog community, a mixture of dog owners at the domestic level, dog breeders and those who breed their dogs for showing—so a lot of kennels and different activity.

I want to read from the Adelaide Plains Council Dog and Cat Management Plan 2022-2027. The data is a little bit old—this goes back to the year 2021—but at that point in time there were 7,333 registered dogs within the Adelaide Plains Council. That is a big business community. If we have pets, we know that vets are a big part of that, but there would be kennelling infrastructure and all those sorts of things. The council's document reflected that the number of dog-based businesses remained steady. Those businesses include dog kennels and dog keeping. Having read that document, I think the Adelaide Plains Council have done a really comprehensive job of establishing what their strategy or plan is for managing dogs registered in their community.

In fact, to break it down to the locations within that council and the number of dogs registered, Lewiston is the biggest community. It is a fantastic residential area, or rural living really, with multiple acre blocks. It has a country lifestyle that gives people an opportunity to develop their passion for breeding and showing dogs. In Lewiston, there are 2,500 dogs registered; in Two Wells, there are 1,300; in Mallala, there are 200; and, in Dublin, there are 200 as well.

As I move towards some final remarks, I want to thank the people in my community who, in discovering that the act was under reform or being considered as an amendment bill, have reached out to me to express their concerns about reform that will inhibit their ability to continue their practice of raising their dogs and showing their dogs and that there are some restrictions coming through the bill that have concerned them.

I want to thank Brian Parker, who is the current president of Dogs SA, and a lovely fellow called Peter Damarell, both from the Adelaide Plains Council, who took the time to meet with me and my community to make sure, as we work through this amendment bill, that the government hears from all numbers of people who own and breed dogs that, while reform is welcome on making sure that the animals (the dogs and cats) that we love have legislation that protects their welfare, we are not too heavy-handed on those who pour their time and their money into their hobby of showing dogs.

I do not know if anyone in this chamber has spent time at dog trials. I do not go to dog shows as much but we enjoy attending, and we need to understand that a lot of work goes into raising those dogs and keeping them well. On behalf of some constituents in my region, I want to share some brief concerns and move on to conclude my remarks.

The feedback I got certainly was residents expressing strong opposition to the approval of IGP training by the Adelaide Sportdog Club, citing some concerns about the protection aspects of this training. Some arguments were that the approval influenced by a robust dog sport community neglected significant negative practical implications and disregarded the opposition from established organisations like Dogs SA and the RSPCA. Some critical questions have been raised at the local level. We are trying to work through them. I think there is always a solution to be found, but constituents raising concerns or highlighting the risk of misuse by trained dogs is certainly an avenue that we are exploring.

I sincerely want to thank those in my community who felt that, by coming forward to have a conversation with me about the amendment bill, it gave them an opportunity to have a voice in this chamber. I thank the Adelaide Plains Council in particular. As I understand it, it is the council representing the largest number of dog breeders or dogs registered in the state. Therefore, it is a significant player in how this incoming amendment bill will affect their ratepayers, the by-laws that govern how those dogs are raised and, if there are some elements to be worked through, then hopefully advocacy or communication continues with the government and with the minister.

I thank the house for the indulgence of being able to reflect on my border collie, Reggie; my amazing grandpa, Reggie Michael; all dog triallers who travel the state; and farmers who rely on their dogs even more than their farmhands because a dog will respond to a whistle and a jackaroo may not. With that, I conclude my remarks.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Frome. It is all about the indulgence when it comes to dogs and cats. Before I call the member for King, I would like to give a shout-out to our dog, Dusty, the Kangaroo Island kelpie. Not only does he have his own beer and is a tireless fundraiser for the people in our community but during COVID he was a great source of companionship to people who were isolated, and via social media they often reached out to him. He is a regular on the school visit circuit. We read books to kids and we go to clubs like the Probus club as well. He also has the distinction of being the only dog ever kicked out of this place, in a very undemocratic way, back in 2020, and do not think he has not been lobbying me since I became Speaker to get him back in here, but it is not the number one priority that we have.

Mrs PEARCE (King) (12:00): I would like to echo that sentiment. I would say that Dusty is one of the most community-minded pups that I have ever met. Very much like the member for Frome, my household is a border collie household. Our Ollie certainly was not $40,000. He was a rehome from a neighbouring farm back when I was growing up, but to our family he is absolutely irreplaceable. That is why I rise today to speak on these very important reforms, which seek to improve the health and the safety of our closest four-legged friends, not only through the breeding industry in South Australia but also through the prioritisation of community safety when it comes to dog-related incidents in our streets.

At the last election, we made a commitment to ban the operation of puppy farms and prevent them from establishing themselves in South Australia. We are all too well aware of some of the devastating conditions that shonky breeders force their animals to live in, the toll that this takes on the animals and the complexities that are faced when they are taken to their new families. It is absolutely heartbreaking when we see this footage on social media and on the news channels and the like, but I am also really pleased to see that the community is keeping a vigilant eye on this matter and we are seeing a desire to have better protections put in place and to stamp out this behaviour altogether.

Over the holidays, we had concerns raised with us about the conditions and the wellbeing of an animal in our local area. They had snuck out, and through that members of our community were able to recognise the signs and make appropriate inquiries to the relevant authorities to ensure that those animals were safe and well. I am so pleased that today, returning to parliament, we are seeking to put an end to this by now delivering on our promise to the South Australian public, because the evidence is clear.

Where we have these large-scale and inhumane puppy farms, we know that those at the helm are doing nothing more than prioritising the profits they seek to make at the expense of an animal's welfare. This in turn leads to despicable and deplorable conditions that contribute to nothing more than unnecessary and distressing suffering. To combat these operators and to shut down their exploitative business practices, this bill introduces a new breeder licensing scheme that will set the new standards for dog breeding in South Australia and ensure that breeders adhere to the new strict standards.

The scheme includes specific limits that align our state with the standards in Victoria, which stands as the strictest jurisdiction across Australia. It will see no more than 50 female dogs per breeding program, effectively outlawing large-scale puppy farming operations. While most of our existing breeding kennels operate well below this limit, aligning the cap with that of the strictest jurisdiction will prevent South Australia being an easy alternative for dodgy breeders to set up shop.

Protections for breeding dogs will see female dogs limited to a maximum of five litters in their lifetime, which will limit the damage that excessive breeding can do to their health and also their welfare, and will require that every litter born be reported under the mandatory reporting requirements. Registering as a breeder will also be contingent upon thorough criminal background checks, and if someone decides to risk breeding without a licence they will face fines of up to $10,000, with the legislation also providing for suspension and cancellation of breeder licences.

I am excited that we are once again delivering on another promise that we made at the last election, but I am even more pleased that this bill will help us put a stop to the inhumane operations that some operators have undertaken in our state. Bringing South Australia in line with the strictest jurisdiction in Australia will go a great way to stopping animal cruelty in pursuit of profit.

This bill will also see improvements made to our legislation and regulations when it comes to dealing with roaming dogs, which we also know puts the safety of our community at risk. In recent times we have seen the devastating impact that dog attacks have had on individuals, highlighting the urgent need to address the issue of dangerous dogs and irresponsible ownership.

Just last year, we had a particular case in my community that was brought to my attention which really highlights how much action needs to be taken and support provided to the community on this matter, and I will relay that to the house. A constituent of mine was at the back of their home weeding, with their two little dogs running around. The owner had left the flat open, when suddenly another dog, a staffy, wandered in. It was not an aggressive dog, but it did not have a tag and it was marking its territory all over the property.

The resident then remembered that they have a really old cat—his name is Puddy and he is 21 years old and a bit deaf. He was inside, but in the time it took the owner to go to his cat to ensure that he was safe that was all it took for the staffy to take attention and lunge for the cat. It was quite a distressing experience for the owner to try to rectify the matter and get the dog back in safe hands, but he had the added complex problem of needing to find the owner whilst also needing to seek attention for his cat and support in that matter.

It is no secret that dog attacks in South Australia are skyrocketing, with 503 people presenting at a public hospital in the past year from attacks, up from 211 in 2012. More than 1,200 dog attacks were reported to South Australian councils last year, but independent research suggests that many more are not reported.

It is for reasons like this that we are introducing this legislation in addition to other measures that are being implemented as part of a joint campaign with Australia Post and the state government. Last year, members may remember having your four-legged friend introduced to a gentleman pup called Buddy, who is the dog bite safety educator. He is on a mission to share practical safety messaging to keep South Australian posties safe and reduce the overall number of dog bites in South Australia.

Australia Post is delivering 314,000 letters free of charge, a service that would otherwise have cost about $390,000 in stamps and other postage charges, which highlights the significance of this campaign in helping keep these workers safe while they deliver important services to our communities. In addition to the letters, free bumper stickers and collectible dog safety leaflets that feature Buddy and his friends are available to collect from South Australian post offices.

I have been really fortunate to get some of these, which I have available in my office for anybody in my community who might find this information useful. Sometimes just having the reminder on a property that there is a dog and to be cautious of behaviours of dogs can be the difference between an attack and not having one. It is a great opportunity to talk about what we can all do to keep our four-legged pals safe, as well as those servicing our neighbourhood.

There are also three short animated videos of Buddy, demonstrating the warning signs that dogs give before they bite, and explaining reasons why sometimes dogs bite, which have been uploaded to the government's dog bite safety website, Good Dogs Have Bad Days. This is something that I think is quite useful when we are teaching our children and more vulnerable members of our community about dogs. It is a really valuable tool that we have available now, thanks to this initiative.

To combat the concerning rise in dog attacks we have seen, this bill seeks to increase the penalties for these offences to reflect the severity of these incidents. This will see significant increases to fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. For example, if a dog attacks a person or another animal, causing serious death or injury, the owner will face a maximum fine of $25,000, which marks a tenfold increase from the current $2,500 penalty. In a situation where the attacking dog was already subject to a dangerous dog order, a fivefold increase will take place marking the maximum fine of $50,000, up from $10,000.

The bill also introduces subclauses regarding a new wandering dog order, requiring an owner to take responsibility and reasonable steps to prevent their dogs from getting out and roaming the streets, if their dogs consistently manage to escape. Another important aspect of this bill is the incorporation of interstate orders, which allows the minister, upon application, to recognise other states' dangerous dog orders or prohibition orders.

This bill is filled with solid reforms that support responsible dog ownership here in South Australia and takes a strong stance against breeders who seek to exploit the health and wellbeing of animals in the pursuit of profit. This bill introduces strong measures that will go a long way to protecting our community and promoting animal welfare in South Australia and for that reason I commend this bill to the house and I am very proud of this government for doing the work to combat these problems.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:10): I rise to indicate my support for the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024, a bill that bans large-scale puppy farms which increase the risk of animal cruelty, introduces a new breeder licensing scheme and increases the fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. This bill is the fulfilment of another Malinauskas Labor election commitment. Our election commitment was to ban puppy factories and to prevent any such operation from setting up in South Australia. No animal should be housed in inhumane conditions, forced to constantly breed, with their puppies then to be sold in a pet shop to an unsuspecting family.

The commitment was to ensure that standards governing commercial breeding of companion animals in South Australia are at least as strict as any jurisdiction in the nation, so that there is no incentive for unscrupulous operators to move here to establish their core operation. This bill addresses this issue, implements strict standards and brings South Australia into line with Victoria, currently the strictest jurisdiction for breeding programs in the nation.

The new breeder licensing scheme will require breeders to adhere to strict standards for breeding, and adhere to limits on the number of female animals per breeding program and the number of litters that may be bred by the licensed holder. Breeders will have to apply for licences and will not receive licences if they, or a current spouse or domestic partner of the applicant, have been found guilty of a prescribed offence within the five years immediately preceding that application. Fines of up to $10,000 will apply for breeding animals without a licence, or contravening a condition of licence, as well as the ability to suspend and cancel breeder licences.

The board must keep and maintain a register for the purposes of this bill and the bill introduces offences relating to the sale of certain dogs and cats. Mandatory reporting of each litter will also be introduced, along with reporting if a fertile female dog or cat, owned by the licence holder, or under the control of which the licence holder is responsible, dies, is desexed, or otherwise ceases to be part of the licence holder's breeding program.

I will now move on to another aspect of this bill, relating to increases in the fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. We have sadly seen a number of dog attacks in recent times and unfortunately another headline this morning of a baby who is now in hospital after being attacked by a dog in the family home. That is a terrible situation for that family.

As we know from the current Good Dogs Have Bad Days campaign, any dog can bite, and last year over 500 South Australians were admitted to hospital for dog bite-related treatment and recovery. It is an offence for a dog to attack, harass or chase people or pets. Dogs, as we know, are not usually deliberately aggressive. This is often a response to fear, perceived threats or behaviours caused by their environment or the people around them. This bill states that if a dog attacks a person or another animal, causing serious injury or death, the owner will face a maximum fine of $25,000 instead of the $2,500 penalty that currently applies. Additionally, the fine will be up to $50,000 if the attacking dog was already the subject of a dangerous dog order—an increase from $10,000.

If a council animal management officer has assessed a dog to be potentially dangerous, it must wear a collar to identify it. This collar warns others to give this dog space. These collars have yellow and red diagonal stripes. Any dog of any breed or any size could be a dangerous dog. The changes to the bill further allow for the recognition of certain interstate orders, allowing the minister, on application, to recognise interstate dangerous dog orders or prohibition orders. This amendment aims to manage the risk identified in another jurisdiction without having to wait for an attack or incident to occur in South Australia.

This bill also introduces subclauses regarding a new 'wandering dog' order to manage dogs which continually escape. The new order will stipulate reasonable steps to be taken by the owner to prevent the dog escaping and to attend training where appropriate. Dogs should not be wandering beyond their homes, as they can become frightened, lost, attack people or wildlife or, unfortunately, be struck by a vehicle.

Finally, this bill removes the requirement for greyhounds having retired from racing to wear a muzzle. This will bring South Australia into line with other states, free these beautiful animals to fully enjoy their environment and reduce barriers to greyhound adoption. On that note, I will give a shout-out to Gibson's favourite adopted greyhound, Grandpa Joe, who is currently staying cool in our electorate office today. Once again, I cannot give a speech in this house without giving a shout-out to Freya. Happy 10^th birthday for last week. She is the most magnificent addition to our family. Despite the fact that she went blind last year, she is an absolute delight every single day. I commend dogs to the house.

Ms CLANCY (Elder) (12:16): I rise today in support the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024, which seeks to amend the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 and the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935. I know this is a controversial and divisive statement to make—and we tend to try to avoid those in politics—but I would like to put on record, as I am sure many of you have been wondering, I am a dog person.

My allergies mean that cats are not for me. They are also not super friendly. If I am going to the member for Badcoe's house with her lovely cats for any extended period of time, I always have to take an antihistamine 30 minutes before. When my daughter was three, she kept asking for a cat. I would explain that we cannot have one because of my allergies. She eventually got to the point of saying, in the sweetest, most lovely voice, 'That's okay, you can live somewhere else.' The hypothetical cat was apparently more desired than me.

In December 2022, we did bring a pet into our home—our dog, Pepsi, a beautiful tan standard poodle. My wonderful dad retired when he was around 70. He did not really last long in retirement. Having worked in agriculture, viticulture, journalism, communications, all sorts of things, he decided to turn our garage into a dog grooming salon. He is a very kind and generous man and did not charge very much money, even for the biggest dogs. No-one was paying more than $100—no-one. He got to the point of having 200 dogs on his books, including a number of dogs of some of the Crows footy players. He was a very busy man.

Over the last couple of years, he has had to tone down, as he is 77 years old, about to turn 78. He has fewer dogs on the books now, but he still has a few. A couple of those are two standard poodles from one household. The family thought that it would be nice for them to make one litter before desexing, so we got a call from my dad saying, 'I am currently washing eight tiny, beautiful puppies. You guys should come see them,' so then I did. I took a five year old with me, and what would you know? We ended up getting one of those puppies, and so did my dad and so did one of my brothers. So we have three of the eight, and they are beautiful dogs.

My partner is not a dog or a cat person and did not really want one. That being said, very early on I came home one day from a parliamentary sitting day, walked into the house at about 6.30, and I could smell food cooking. I thought, 'Oh my gosh, my partner has made dinner on a sitting night. This is excellent.' I was so excited. I walked in and said, 'What have you made?' and he said, 'No, I'm not making dinner for you; I'm making food for the dog. I don't like the dry biscuits that you're feeding her; it's not good enough.' So he now cooks for her every four days. He makes a big batch of rice and veggies and meat. She is a very spoilt puppy and very loved by the man who did not want a dog.

Being such a dog person, I am particularly proud to speak on this bill today, and I know many in my community will be stoked to see this bill's passage. One of the most abhorrent examples of animal cruelty in our state is the practice of puppy farms, where dogs are forced to breed year after year, crammed in filthy conditions. At the 2022 state election we promised to eradicate this practice, banning puppy farms once and for all. In September of that year, we took our first step towards fulfilling that promise by introducing an immediate cap on the number of fertile breeding females that could be kept on a premise or by one owner. This reform, equal to the strictest in Australia, put an end to any prospect of inhumane breeders who had plans to move from states with stricter laws to continue their immoral practice in South Australia.

Last year we took another step towards fulfilling our promise, as the draft of the bill before us today was opened to community consultation between May and June. I would like to thank each and every one of the more than 300 compassionate South Australians who took the time to share their views and experiences on this bill and who continue to advocate to me and to everyone else in this place to continue the pursuit of promoting animal welfare in this state.

I would also like to thank all the members of my community who have shared with me their views on this important reform and who tirelessly advocate for a better environment and community for our fluffy four-legged friends. As Terri wrote, upon hearing that we were delivering on our promise to ban puppy farms, 'That's absolutely fantastic news. At last, a state government that is sticking to promises made in an election.'

This bill seeks to introduce a new breeder licensing scheme that will require breeders to adhere to strict standards for breeding, such as limiting the number of female animals per breeding program and the number of litters that may be bred. Mandatory reporting of each litter will also be introduced. This proposed reform will bring South Australia in line with Victoria, which is currently the strictest jurisdiction for breeding programs in the country.

In addition to banning puppy farms, this bill also seeks to increase the fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. This bill proposes increasing the maximum fine for the owner of a dog that attacks a person or another animal, causing serious injury or death, from $2,500 to $25,000. If the attacking dog was already the subject of a dangerous dog order, the maximum fine would be increased to $50,000, rather than the existing increase of up to $10,000. We all very much love our animals, but we all do need to take responsibility and keep people safe as well. I want to congratulate the Deputy Premier, the Dog and Cat Management Board and everyone involved in the 'Good dogs have bad days' campaign, which is a simple message but I think a really effective one.

Furthermore, this reform also introduces a subclause regarding a new wandering dog order to help manage dogs who continually escape. This new order will stipulate reasonable steps to be taken by the owner to prevent the dog escaping and to attend training where appropriate. While Pepsi has only escaped twice, I will make sure I advise her of this change as well. These reforms are nation-leading and sensible, and I am really proud to be part of a state government that continues to promote animal welfare in line with the expectations of our community. I would also like to say that I am really happy with the changes for greyhounds as well. We have a greyhound in our family, with my brother and sister-in-law having their beautiful dog Katie. I am so happy to see these changes for her and other beautiful greyhounds.

In closing, I would like to again thank the Deputy Premier and everyone in her team for their ongoing support and work to bring this reform to this place. South Australians seeking to bring home a new four-legged friend can finally be assured that their loved pet was not bred in a puppy farm. I commend this bill to the house.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:24): I will make a brief contribution, because everyone loves a good dog story or a cat story. I am rising to support this bill. I think it is important that humans do not continue to exploit what is one of the great companions of all time.

If only a dog or a cat could talk. Living on different types of farms over many, many years we have had different types of dogs on farm. We have had house dogs, we have had working dogs, we have had companion dogs. Along the way we have had many working dogs, whether they are out in the paddocks, whether they are in the yards or whether they are there to ease the pressures of handling livestock, particularly out in some of the more challenging country.

In the early days the traditional house pet in my household used to be the cuddly golden labrador or some form of terrier, but they have always been a great companion. They were always allowed to break the rules within the house. They are always able to lie on chairs, lie on the carpet and come inside when they are told not to. They soon become one of the house favourites, if you like.

I think there is a reason for that. As I said, if only a dog or a cat could talk. I am not a cat person, as has been explained, for different reasons. But if a dog—a working dog or a house dog—could talk wouldn't we be in a world of pain, because they do hear a lot, but they do not say much. Dogs have the ability to put a smile on your face when things are tough, and they have the ability to make you grumpy when they are not doing exactly what you ask them to do.

Over time in terms of our working dogs I think the majority of them have been a kelpie or a border collie, because they seem to have been very adaptable not only to our climate but to the challenges of what a working dog means: intelligent, yes, and able to take orders from their master, yes, and learn to be a better dog or a better animal at every given challenge.

Along the way some of those dogs, whether they be a house dog or a working dog—they are always companions. They are always there to help soothe the soul. They are always there to listen. They are a sounding board in many instances. Over time I have had the luxury of being able to talk to the dog. Some people say you are going a bit cray-cray when you start talking to the dog, but I think they give you the ability to download and get rid of some of that internal angst that sometimes builds up.

Again, dogs come in many different shapes, sizes and forms. For what it is worth, some of the newer house dogs now—the designer dogs, if you like—have been bred primarily as crossbreeds. They do not shed hair, they are somewhat more predictable and in many ways, shapes or forms they are quite adapted to living in more of a confined space. We know that some of those working dogs need large paddocks to burn off energy so that when they come in after a day's work or come in at night they actually sleep rather than run around and do circles in the backyard, if you like.

We have talked about dogs within sport. Obviously, the greyhound racing sector has had somewhat of a chequered history, but I am very pleased to see that the latest review will see that industry held to account. If the greyhound racing sector does uphold all the recommendations in the latest review, it will be better for the industry, it will be better for the reputation of the industry and it will be better for the dogs that are there as competitive dogs. We do have different breeds of dogs out there as part of retrieval, whether it be retrieving during a hunting exercise bringing back the prey. I think if those dogs are trained properly, and if those owners respond and act in a proper manner, there should not be the controversy that we see from a lot of quarters when it comes to that sport.

Of course, there are other parts of industry with working dogs. I think a seeing eye dog is probably one of the great masters of what we associate with a companion dog, helping those people less fortunate, those who have no eyesight or partial blindness. Those highly trained, highly intelligent dogs give those people who, sadly, have no eyesight the opportunity to live a more natural life out and about, out walking with that companion, with the dog giving them the eyes that they have lost either through birth or through injury or accident or degenerative disease along the way. No-one could praise a seeing eye dog enough for the great work that they do to help those less fortunate.

Biosecurity is another set of working circumstances, particularly biosecurity dogs that work on our borders and dogs that work in our police force. Nothing gives people more satisfaction than a morning news report when we hear that the police have taken out one of their police dogs that has captured someone who has committed an offence. It really does give people a sense of warming that this dog has caught, captured and pushed someone into a corner, and it is really a reward for what is a great commitment not only by governments but by their handlers and by society for the acceptance they have for the dogs. We have dogs that perform biosecurity measures at airports, we have dogs that perform biosecurity measures, particularly on our borders, preventing unwanted materials and unwanted or disallowed drugs and that sort of thing coming into our society.

What I must say is that there is also a downside to being an MP knocking on doors, particularly in a regional setting, which has just happened to me in recent times. Along my quite expansive doorknocking exercises, I have had the odd nip on the back of the leg or on the backside but, sadly, in December last year I was attacked by a dog. I have lost a piece out of my leg, I have lost a piece out of my back, I have a bit missing out of my arm. They are the challenges of pulling up at a farm, pulling up at someone's house, getting out of your vehicle and not realising that you are about to lose something that you treasured, and that is a piece of your leg or your back.

But that is what it is. It is one of the challenges we endure knocking on doors and introducing ourselves to people. I must say that the family who own that dog were Liberal voters. They were not Labor voters and it was not the fact that that dog picked out who I was; it was just the fact that I was in that dog's territory and it decided to take a piece out of me.

In closing, I would say to people to please, in this hot weather, look after your animals, look after your dogs and cats, understand that you cannot walk them on the footpaths or out on the roads, particularly when they are exposed to the sun. If you are a responsible owner or caretaker of an animal, particularly a dog or cat, make sure you understand the challenges of what weather, particularly hot weather, means to them. Owners, remember to register your animal, and remember that the microchip service is there.

If you are what I consider to be a responsible dog or cat owner you should have a collar on them. Make sure that you look after your dog; groom them, and make sure their nails are clipped so that they do not develop deformities or diseases. Make sure you treat your dog or cat the way you would like to be treated.

I commend the bill, and it will be supported by the opposition. It is something I think every person acknowledges, that we need to better protect our dogs and our cats from the people who look to exploit them, who look to create an industry that usually revolves around money. Those who do that, shame on you. Those who are for the betterment of their pets, their animals, their dogs and their cats: continue to look after them, and treat them like they are a treasure.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (12:36): I am delighted to stand as final speaker to close debate, and to have the opportunity to thank everyone for their contributions. I would also like to welcome the member for Finniss, who is my new shadow as we head into the next year. I have known the member for some time, of course, because we have all been around for a while, and I have enormous respect for what he brings—a great deal of sincerity and thoroughness—to any portfolio he is involved with.

The contributions have been very good in covering what this bill seeks to do. Of course, I have already delivered my second reading speech so I will not repeat them, but I could—and possibly for a very short period will—talk about my own love for the dogs I have shared my life with.

I have always been a terrier fan, although I have recently become a convert to the King Charles Cavalier, because that was the little angel that showed up in our household about 10 years ago now. Despite being reasonably aged, she frolics about like a small puppy still. I always say that with the four of us in the household there are shifting alliances and relationships, but all four of us always really adore the dog. She is the one constant source of affection and agreement.

Importantly, I think each person who has spoken has shared a little insight into their relationship with dogs as they have grown up and now, and it reminds us all that we are humans who share common experiences despite the often partisan and at times the very sincerely held views that exist. It is wonderful for me to start this parliamentary year with a bill we can all agree on.

The member for Hammond and I were on a select committee many years ago. I was newly in parliament—I suspect it was 2012, my first year—and we looked into the question of breeding dogs and cats, and dogs in particular of course; how that was managed, and when it was managed well. It was my first opportunity to really spend time with the member for Hammond and I enjoyed that very much. We were also on a sustainable farming committee, I think, with then member Ivan Venning, which was also a lot of fun.

The important thing is that at that committee we determined that there were some gaps in the way in which breeders were managed, and the first stage of reforms happened in the following years when there was a registration of breeders. This legislation takes it to the next stage, and says that you need to be licensed. The difference is that anyone can say, 'I'm a breeder. I know that I'm required to be registered as a breeder, so I will submit the paperwork.' What the licensing does is attach far more conditions to that, so that people who purchase an animal from that breeder can be assured not just that they are known, which is what the registration scheme did, but that there are conditions to the licence, which we can be sure meet community standards.

That is what this piece of legislation does. It does not dictate, for example, what the limit is for the number of breeding cycles for a mother dog will be. It simply says that the licence will include that limit. That enables the Dog and Cat Management Board to determine what is appropriate over time. It may well be that there is a different standard for the number of dogs. It may well be that there is a different standard for the number of cycles in order to make sure that we are at the forefront in Australia, and therefore not being the recipients of, as we know, the concerning dodgy breeders.

That, I think, is important to point out, particularly in reference to the questions asked by the member for Frome of how this will actually play out for breeders. Her area does have a number of breeders within it, and they are understandable questions, although I think that there has been such good consultation that they ought to all have a reasonable degree of certainty. The legislation says if you are already doing a good job breeding with the animals, you are not going to be disturbed by this change in legislation. What you are going to be able to do is know that (a) you are not being undercut by dodgy breeders who do things on the cheap and still sell the dogs expensively, and (b) you are not going to have your entire industry besmirched by the appearance in the media periodically of those shocking breeders.

Members will recall—I think I mentioned it in the second reading speech and, if not, I have discussed it frequently in the media—that there really are two kinds of breeders that are problematic: one is the very large-scale breeders. People do not like the idea of 300 or 500 breeding females being kept by breeders, and I understand that, although we have a willingness for some species that we do have, with a large number of them aggregated to dairies and piggeries and so on. But people have a concern about our companion animals being treated that way, and I respect that position, and so that is one of the reasons why we have said there must be a limit to the number, so that we do not have large-scale breeders coming from interstate where limits are imposed.

The other concern, and the one that I think is a very serious concern, is about these dodgy backyard breeders who may not have very many, but treat their animals appallingly: breed them far too many times, do not feed them properly, groom them, show them affection or give them access to proper bedding. That is the one that is of greatest concern to me, and one that we see periodically in the media. That will be addressed through the conditions being imposed on the licence. With both of those approaches, we are able to say this is an industry that is cleaned up, and that if anyone behaves in a way that is not acceptable, and not part of the conditions of the licence, we can get rid of them.

Dog attacks have been mentioned several times. It is appalling to see in coverage on Adelaidenow the baby who attacked today at a residential address. We are increasing our tough approach on dog attacks. I appreciated that there were several references made to the very good work done by the Dog and Cat Management Board on the Good Dogs Have Bad Days campaign. I will also give a little shout-out to Australia Post, who went into partnership where they paid for the posting of letters to all the households with dogs, to remind them about that.

Of course, the reason that Australia Post has a particular interest is the same as was just described where MPs go to doors, and knock on the door, and can have a dog suddenly leaping out at them. So, too, for posties. There is a shift that we have seen recently—over the last several years really—of posties no longer being able to go past and put something in the letterbox, but they are delivering packages, and they are therefore having to go to the door and a number of times someone just opens the door and the dog jumps out. Even if nothing happens, it is alarming for the postie and, of course, at times there is an attack involved, and so we have to just keep in mind our responsibility for the dogs under our control.

I would like to thank everybody who has participated in this debate. I am glad it has been supported across the chamber. I think it is an important reform. It is an election commitment that was given and therefore it is an election commitment that has been kept, but I think beyond that it is also reform that we all see is necessary for us all to get behind and I am grateful for the support of the chamber.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (12:45): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.