❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2002, specifically regarding animal abuse complaints in Broome and other regions. The answer clarifies the roles of DAFWA and RSPCA WA in handling complaints and the method of recording them.
AnsweredQoN 4710Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) and ask: : (a) what is the Minister doing to ensure the Act is being enforced throughout Western Australia by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA), particularly in the Kimberley region and Broome; (b) how many complaints has DAFWA received about animal abuse in Broome in 2012, 2013, 2014 and year to date 2015; and (c) how many complaints has DAFWA received about animal abuse in each 2012, 2013, 2014 for each of the following regions: (i) Kimberley; (ii) Pilbara; (iii) Gascoyne; (iv) Mid West; (v) Wheatbelt; (vi) Peel; (vii) South West; and (viii) Great Southern?
I
refer to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) and ask:
refer to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) and ask: : (a) what is the Minister doing to ensure the Act is being enforced throughout Western Australia by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA), particularly in the Kimberley region and Broome; (b) how many complaints has DAFWA received about animal abuse in Broome in 2012, 2013, 2014 and year to date 2015; and (c) how many complaints has DAFWA received about animal abuse in each 2012, 2013, 2014 for each of the following regions: (i) Kimberley; (ii) Pilbara; (iii) Gascoyne; (iv) Mid West; (v) Wheatbelt; (vi) Peel; (vii) South West; and (viii) Great Southern?
I
refer to the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) and ask:
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 February 2016
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
97 days
(a) The Department of Agriculture and Food WA has general inspectors appointed under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act) who enforce the Act, including one inspector located in Broome.
The independent review of the investment in and administration of the Act in Western Australia has made 19 recommendations to improve animal welfare in this State. The Government has accepted all of the recommendations of the review.
(b)-(c) Under the Grant Agreement between the WA Government, through DAFWA, and the RSPCA WA, all animal cruelty complaints from the public are made to the RSPCA WA. DAFWA does accept complaints of cruelty from State and Federal government departments, predominantly the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources veterinarians in export abattoirs, as well as first hand reports of cruelty from DAFWA staff. Referrals from the RSPCA WA are also accepted.
DAFWA does not specifically record complaints by regions specified in the question. The complaints are recorded by postcode, which are most accurately grouped as attached [see tabled paper no ].
The independent review of the investment in and administration of the Act in Western Australia has made 19 recommendations to improve animal welfare in this State. The Government has accepted all of the recommendations of the review.
(b)-(c) Under the Grant Agreement between the WA Government, through DAFWA, and the RSPCA WA, all animal cruelty complaints from the public are made to the RSPCA WA. DAFWA does accept complaints of cruelty from State and Federal government departments, predominantly the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources veterinarians in export abattoirs, as well as first hand reports of cruelty from DAFWA staff. Referrals from the RSPCA WA are also accepted.
DAFWA does not specifically record complaints by regions specified in the question. The complaints are recorded by postcode, which are most accurately grouped as attached [see tabled paper no ].
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