❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the financial implications and intended outcomes of new cat registration fees for local governments and cat breeders, with the government's response outlining cost considerations, anticipated local government actions, and benefits for breeders.
AnsweredQoN 1277Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the new regulations under which cat breeders are required to pay an annual fee of $100 for each breeding cat and ask: (a) what is the financial modeling the Government has used to set the fees for the registration of cats; (b) what is the anticipated income per local government authority from the registration of cats; (c) what percentage of the revenue collected by local government authorities from these fees will go directly into strengthening the welfare of cats and addressing the feral cat problem in Western Australia; (d) what does the Government envisage local government authorities will do to strengthen the welfare of cats and address the feral cat problem following the introduction of the new fees; and (e) based on the Government’s extensive consultation with stakeholders about the fees for the registration of cats, what is the anticipated benefits for cat breeders who must now pay anywhere around $1500 annually to continue with their vocation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 November 2013
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
30 days
(a) Information on the anticipated costs associated with administering the
Cat Act 2011
was provided by local governments. The Government took into account the principles of user pays; and affordability in setting the registration fees.
(b) The Cat Act commence on 1 November 2013 and cats are now required to be registered, presently the number of owned cats in the community is unknown. Consequently, income to local governments from registration of cats is unknown.
(c) Local governments have indicated that it is anticipated that the administration costs of registering cats and enforcing the Cat Act will be similar to the current costs associated with dogs and that the registration fees will not cover these costs in full.
(d) In addition to administering the Cat Act, which is aimed at reducing the number of cats euthanised, the Government anticipates that local governments, will introduce local cat laws. Local laws may include laws which limit cat numbers at premises, laws about nuisance cats and laws about removing and impounding cats.
(e) The maximum fee that a cat breeder will be required to pay is $120 per unsterilised cat per year. Cats that are owned for breeding are exempt from being sterilised. The annual breeding fee is generally less than the cost of sterilising a cat and should be recovered from the sale of the kittens, some of which sell for many hundreds of dollars each and often still at those prices breeders have waiting lists.
Cat Act 2011
was provided by local governments. The Government took into account the principles of user pays; and affordability in setting the registration fees.
(b) The Cat Act commence on 1 November 2013 and cats are now required to be registered, presently the number of owned cats in the community is unknown. Consequently, income to local governments from registration of cats is unknown.
(c) Local governments have indicated that it is anticipated that the administration costs of registering cats and enforcing the Cat Act will be similar to the current costs associated with dogs and that the registration fees will not cover these costs in full.
(d) In addition to administering the Cat Act, which is aimed at reducing the number of cats euthanised, the Government anticipates that local governments, will introduce local cat laws. Local laws may include laws which limit cat numbers at premises, laws about nuisance cats and laws about removing and impounding cats.
(e) The maximum fee that a cat breeder will be required to pay is $120 per unsterilised cat per year. Cats that are owned for breeding are exempt from being sterilised. The annual breeding fee is generally less than the cost of sterilising a cat and should be recovered from the sale of the kittens, some of which sell for many hundreds of dollars each and often still at those prices breeders have waiting lists.
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