Page 2890 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 29 June 2011
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The RSPCA provides a valuable and vital service to our community. Much of that service is work that the government would otherwise be doing. We have seen an increase in street patrols, which is all very well and good. No doubt this will mean fewer stray dogs and cats on the street, but where will they go? The budget appoints a new kennel manager but reduces the hours of operation of the domestic animal shelter, which is a shelter for dogs and not any other domestic animals.
At some point these measures will mean more pressure being placed on the RSPCA, and we are seeing that on a regular basis. There was an unfortunate incident a couple of years ago when a pig ended up in the domestic animal shelter—a pet pig which was put down because the Domestic Animal Services did not know how to deal with it and could not find its owner, although the owners had rung looking for their pig.
The government tells us that negotiations are underway for a two-year agreement, but the funding is only provided for 2011-12. It is unclear what will occur beyond that. The government promises, in the answer to estimates question No 577, that “the funding in the agreement will be the subject of further negotiations and decisions within the normal budget processes”. So there is no certainty for the RSPCA.
The bottom line for the RSPCA, one of the most respected animal welfare organisations in the country, if not the world, is that they cannot make any plans beyond 1 July next year. Meanwhile the government is hot to trot on giving itself a bright, new, shiny office building with a special suite for its ministers.
The government agreed to the estimates committee recommendation in relation to the RSPCA. This is all well and good. But in doing so the government still have made no commitment to any support for the RSPCA, either for its future location or for its future activities. They have just made a bland statement that negotiations are continuing.
In terms of the domestic animal shelter, the estimates committee recommended that it be reviewed to determine the most effective and efficient way to ensure animal welfare. Again, a non-committal response comes from the government, saying that “the negotiations with the RSPCA will clarify this matter”. This is code for the government saying: “We want the RSPCA to do it all—provide shelter for the animals, do the investigations, patrol the streets. But we will want the RSPCA to do it for less than we can. After all, the RSPCA does have an army of volunteers.” I put the government on notice that we will be watching the developments in relation to the RSPCA very closely.
I would like to comment briefly on the Centenary Trail. The government allocated $3.3 million over three years for its construction, design for which will commence in the 2011-12 financial year. In a question on notice, the Canberra Liberals asked the government what strategies are in place to promote the trail and what is its capacity to generate revenue. The answer to question on notice No 559 was that “no promotional strategies are currently in place as the project is yet to commence”.
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