❓ Hon Alison Xamon asks about the introduction, reforms, recognition of interstate dogs, harmony with other jurisdictions, and other assistance animals in the Dog Amendment Bill. The Minister outlines the Bill's progress, scope, and future considerations.
AnsweredQoN 3882Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When will the Dog Amendment Bill be introduced into Parliament?
(2) What reforms will the Bill introduce regarding Assistance Dogs?
(3) Will Assistance Dogs trained outside Western Australia be recognised?
(4) If yes to (3)(a), what will the mechanism for this be?
(5) If the Bill is passed, to what extent will the Dog Act be in harmony with legislation in other Australian jurisdictions regarding Assistance Dogs?
(6) Is there any intention for assistance animals other than dogs to be recognised under this or any other piece of legislation?
(2) What reforms will the Bill introduce regarding Assistance Dogs?
(3) Will Assistance Dogs trained outside Western Australia be recognised?
(4) If yes to (3)(a), what will the mechanism for this be?
(5) If the Bill is passed, to what extent will the Dog Act be in harmony with legislation in other Australian jurisdictions regarding Assistance Dogs?
(6) Is there any intention for assistance animals other than dogs to be recognised under this or any other piece of legislation?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 June 2011
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Local Government
Response time
42 days
(1) It is the Minister for Local Government's intention to release the Dog Amendment Bill as a Green Bill in the latter half of this year to ensure that the community can have a say on the proposed amendments.
(2) The intention is that the Bill will extend the special provisions that currently apply to guide dogs to other assistance dogs, which will allow a person with a disability to be accompanied on public transport and in other public places by an appropriately accredited assistance dog.
(3) Yes. Currently prescribed interstate organisations include Lions Hearing Dogs and Assistance Dogs Australia, and accredited members of Assistance Dogs International Incorporated.
(4) An Assistance Dogs Approval Policy is currently being developed by the Department of Local Government in consultation with key stakeholders and should be in place within the next three months. The policy will put in place a system whereby application can be made to the Minister for Local Government, which will be assessed against criteria such as the training of the dog. Upon approval, an Assistance Dog Identification Card will be issued.
The proposed amendments will remove the need for the Minister to provide his approval for each application.
(5) A national framework for the identification of appropriately trained assistance dogs is currently being developed. Any legislative amendments that flow from this framework will be accommodated in amendments to regulations
(6) Not at this time.
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(2) The intention is that the Bill will extend the special provisions that currently apply to guide dogs to other assistance dogs, which will allow a person with a disability to be accompanied on public transport and in other public places by an appropriately accredited assistance dog.
(3) Yes. Currently prescribed interstate organisations include Lions Hearing Dogs and Assistance Dogs Australia, and accredited members of Assistance Dogs International Incorporated.
(4) An Assistance Dogs Approval Policy is currently being developed by the Department of Local Government in consultation with key stakeholders and should be in place within the next three months. The policy will put in place a system whereby application can be made to the Minister for Local Government, which will be assessed against criteria such as the training of the dog. Upon approval, an Assistance Dog Identification Card will be issued.
The proposed amendments will remove the need for the Minister to provide his approval for each application.
(5) A national framework for the identification of appropriately trained assistance dogs is currently being developed. Any legislative amendments that flow from this framework will be accommodated in amendments to regulations
(6) Not at this time.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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