Dr. Brian Walker questions the WA government about potential reviews of the Cat Act 2011, prompted by federal discussions on cat management and local government powers. The government acknowledges the issue and indicates a future review and a centralised registration system.

AnsweredQoN 1121Legislative Council
Asked
20 September 2023
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

CAT
ACT — REVIEW
1121. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer the minister to recent
comments made by the federal Minister for Environment, Hon Tanya Plibersek,
calling for local governments to be given more powers when it comes to banning
cats from being outdoors, and imposing night-time curfews to prevent the
extinction of native species.
(1) Has the Cook government received any approaches
from its federal colleagues on this issue in recent months?
(2) Are there any
plans to review the measures within WA's Cat Act 2011, to give local
governments more or varied powers here in the west; and, if not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
Minister for Local Government is aware of the Australian Government's Threat
abatement plan for predation by feral cats 2023: Consultation draft: September
2023 . The next review of the Cat Act 2011 is expected to examine these
issues in detail. The state government is also currently working to establish a
centralised registration system to consolidate all existing local government
cat and dog registers into one online system. This new online system will
improve the tracking of animals to support local governments in their
enforcement of the Cat Act 2011 and the Dog Act 1976.

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