Bills

Statutes Amendment (Animal Welfare Reforms) Bill

Introduction and First Reading

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (21:11): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995. Read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (21:11): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Noting the late hour and the late state that we are in in this parliament, I will briefly outline the bill, but flag that this is something that the Greens will be both campaigning on and bringing to the new parliament. This bill is designed to stop shelters from euthanasing animals where there are alternatives, while ensuring that minimum standards of care are provided at animal shelters. This bill is about saving healthy animals, reforming animal shelters and ensuring that we have successful shelters that save the lives of our companion animals.

Underpinning the bill is a philosophy of smart sheltering, which is, overseas, commonly known as something called 'no-kill'. It has also been part of something called 'getting to zero'. No-kill, of course, is somewhat of a misnomer as all shelters will have to put down sometimes irredeemably ill and suffering animals; however, the shelters that take this smart sheltering approach have a holistic approach towards the care of their animals. This bill is about that approach of redemption.

There are often many reasons why animals do have to be put down. Incurable medical conditions, where an animal is suffering unendurable pain, is of course one. Unresolvable behavioural issues, like aggression or biting, can be another. We should do everything we can to reduce the toll of death to as low as it can be.

The smart shelter philosophy seeks to reduce to as close to zero as possible the number of abandoned, unwanted and surplus companion animals that have to be euthanased in our society. For an example of how such measures can make a real difference, we need look no further than our sister city, Austin, Texas, which became a no-kill city in 2011, and has since saved more than 90 per cent of their homeless companion animals each year.

Last year, while debating the government's Dog and Cat Management (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill, this chamber heard how more than 10,000 dogs and cats are euthanased in this state every single year. This bill, if implemented, would drastically reduce that unacceptable figure. I acknowledge the work of the government. Indeed, that is why I have held off on moving this bill. I would have put the bill further into the parliamentary schedule, but the government's moves, some of which were very welcome, are now being bedded down and are something that the Greens have welcomed. They would have been part of a more comprehensive bill, but this bill takes that one step further.

Technically, in this state as well, we still do not consider greyhounds within that protective legislation. This bill does not forget that greyhounds are, indeed, dogs and that they should enjoy the same protections as their canine cousins. The bill is also about transparency, particularly with regard specifically to greyhounds.

I have spoken previously in this parliament about my intention to introduce legislation that will keep Greyhound Racing SA to its word to continue to publish figures, as they promised a year and several months ago now to this council when I put up a select committee of inquiry proposal to ensure that the greyhound racing industry was not seeing undue wastage. Just over a year ago, and now well over a year and one month ago, the greyhound racing industry, in response to that threat of a select committee, released figures of the numbers that were being euthanased each year, with a wish list for the following year and the year after that. Here we are, well over a year after those figures, with those two years of wish lists released, and we are still waiting for the additional figures. We are still waiting for the transparency that the greyhound racing industry promised. This bill will ensure that transparency.

Part 5B of this bill introduces special provisions relating to greyhound racing. It will be a requirement to lodge yearly reports with the minister detailing the number of registered greyhounds destroyed, approximate numbers of unregistered greyhounds destroyed, and the methods used and those reports are to be tabled in the parliament. It will also make explicitly clear that Greyhound Racing SA is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Members who have paid attention in this place might be aware that many times I have put in freedom of information requests with regard to the number of dogs in the greyhound racing industry that are put down and the way that that is done, and time and time again have had those requests rejected.

These transparency measures will ensure that we do have the truth about how many greyhounds are killed each year and how many in the greyhound racing industry could be living long and healthy lives. The bill will also ensure that with regard to companion animals that where an animal must be killed it is done in a way that is humane and compassionate, and it will develop a code of practice to further the object of the legislation, including a requirement not to kill if an animal can be practically rehoused, and establishing minimum standards of care to be provided at animal shelters and animal rescue organisations.

Accordingly, no cat or dog in this state should be killed if that animal could be placed in a suitable home. Animals in animal shelters require proper care, nutrition and shelter. Animal shelters and other persons involved with stray, abandoned, ill-treated, injured, sick or surrendered animals should make every effort and be supported to make that effort to provide every animal in their custody with individual consideration and care.

I note that the bill before us has been part of an extensive collaboration I have had with the Paw Project in this state and the fine work of Mia McKenzie. I would like to put on the record my gratitude to her and also the inspiration of Nathan Winograd and the No Kill movement in the United States. It takes leadership to tackle this issue and the dogs and cats that we love so much, that hold a special place in our society, deserve the best considerations and this bill takes the first steps that the government has taken and takes that journey further. I look forward to seeing further animal welfare reforms to support the dogs and cats of this state in the new parliament. With those few words, I commend the bill.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Mr Acting President, I draw your attention to the state of the house.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): A quorum not being present, ring the bells.

A quorum having been formed: