Page 711 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 July 1989
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children. Some concern has also been raised that they may not meet animal welfare standards, though I understand that the trap used by Blacktown council has been approved by the RSPCA and the New South Wales Animal Welfare Association.
In the meantime I have asked officers of the ACT Parks and Conservation Division to collect further information on the use of dog traps by other authorities. Mr Speaker, we get a lot of calls in our office about dogs wandering around the streets and doing things on people's lawns that they are not really happy about.
A member: What sorts of things?
MRS GRASSBY: Leaving little parcels, I understand it is called. I understand that that is one of the reasons why people have asked for fences. But maybe, Mr Speaker, we shall have to bring in a law in this respect. It is not always just the dogs wandering on their own; I understand it is people who take their dogs walking. So maybe I will have to ask my department to bring in a law that people have to carry a pooper-scooper with them, and this could probably help with some of the problems that we are having with dogs. But, Mr Speaker, I will get back to you when I have had more information from my department.
Nature Conservation Legislation
MR HUMPHRIES: My question is also to the Minister for Housing and Urban Services. I refer the Minister to her answer to a question I asked her yesterday on the issue of consultation, in which she blamed her department for failing to consult with the RSPCA or the ACT Wildlife Foundation over the Nature Conservation (Amendment) Bill. I ask the Minister - and this should be an easy question, given what the Minister said yesterday about her husband and father being members of various governments - what she understands by the term "ministerial responsibility" and how this principle is applied within her department.
MRS GRASSBY: To start off with, Mr Speaker, I think we had better correct something: I did not blame my department.
Mr Humphries: The Hansard will come out and show you did.
MRS GRASSBY: Yes, well, very good. The point is, I understand from the question, that I had not consulted with - who was it that I was supposed to have consulted with?
Mr Humphries: The RSPCA or the ACT Wildlife Foundation.
MRS GRASSBY: The RSPCA, yes, exactly, Mr Speaker. My department had talked to these people, I understand. I did not need to consult with them before - - -
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