POLICE DRUG DETECTION DOGS

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:01): When the minister met with the dog operation squad, was he told by the police that they require changes in the legislation for these dogs to do all the tasks for which they have been trained?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (15:01): When I first spoke to the Police Commissioner in relation to this matter, it was indicated by him that we needed to look into the legislation.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: When I first spoke to him the answer was not yes. When I first spoke to him the answer was that they would need to investigate it and, in fact, the consideration of that matter took a long time. If the honourable member goes back and re-reads the answers to the questions, he will see that the police themselves were, in the early days, investigating whether in fact legislative change was needed and, if so, what form it would take. That is when I first spoke to the Commissioner.

Following that work by the police it was determined that yes—after they had examined the matter fully—it would be useful to have the legislation changed, and it will be. As I said, it is going on a list. There is a whole lot of other legislation that needs changing. Perhaps if we spent a little less time on the enormous amount of private members business in this place we might be able to make more progress with some of the massive amount of government legislation we have to deal with.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!