DOG MANAGEMENT

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question regarding pit bulls.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: There was a tragic case of a death in Victoria of a young girl mauled by a pit bull dog. Responsibility for investigating and enforcing dog management laws falls to councils. I acknowledge that some passionate dog owners are responsible—most of them—but there are some who are not. Anecdotally, nationwide a huge number of pit bull and similar dangerous dogs are not registered.

My question is: can the minister inform the house of the extent to which local government is on top of this issue and whether it has sought or is seeking government help on this issue in order to prevent a sad tragedy like the one recently reported in Victoria?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:23): I do agree that the event with the pit bull was a tragic event. I will take the question on notice and get a response as early as I can.