IAP2 Core Values Awards

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:18): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recent IAP2 Core Values Awards and how public participation in decision-making is important to ensure community-led public policy?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:18): What a stunning question. On Tuesday 18 October, I was very pleased to join the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources' Dog and Cat Management Board at the IAP2 Core Values Awards night. IAP2, the International Association for Public Participation, is the leading public participation association in Australasia. It aims to promote and improve the practice of public participation or community engagement decisions affecting citizens.

IAP2 Australasia's Core Values Awards recognise projects and organisations that are at the forefront of public participation and community engagement. They were created to encourage excellence, quality and innovation in this field. I am very pleased to have been at the awards night to see the Dog and Cat Management Board, working with democracyCo, win the Environment Award category.

The Dog and Cat Management Board and democracyCo entered a joint submission for their stakeholder engagement and citizens' jury process around the dog and cat management reforms. This was a fantastic reflection, I think, on the state government's strong record of engaging with the community to bring their voice to the decision-making table. I would like to encourage anyone interested to read the state government's Better Together: Principles of Engagement document. It is a great foundation for engagement with a focus on community consultation. When we involve people in conversations about decisions that affect them, we can get better outcomes for entire communities.

We can remember when those opposite, I suppose, announced that they wanted to deregulate shop trading hours, for example, without even bothering to consult major employers or employees. It would be nice if on the rare occasion that they release a policy, they actually bother to speak to people that that policy impacts. One gets the feeling, of course, that the Leader of the Opposition will say and do anything to try and cling on to his job. Anyway, while they bicker between themselves, we are getting on with governing for all South Australians. Changes to the dog and cat law reforms are a great example of this.

Our dog and cat reforms are the most sweeping changes made to the state's animal welfare laws for more than 20 years. They will help to bring an end to puppy farms, giving South Australians the confidence they need to know that their dog or cat comes from a reputable breeder. This is a great outcome for all dog and cat lovers in South Australia of course. It will now be compulsory for dog and cat owners to microchip and desexed their dogs and cats.

I would like to again commend the community engagement work undertaken by the Dog and Cat Management Board and democracyCo and congratulate them on their award. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, who were highly commended in the organisation of the year category.