Page 3839 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2013

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MS PORTER: Minister, is this the only code that needs reviewing and strengthening to mandatory standards? Do other codes need to be updated, such as the code for breeding?

MADAM SPEAKER: Sorry, Ms Porter, I did not hear the last word—the code for what?

MS PORTER: Are there other codes that need updating, such as the code for breeding.

MADAM SPEAKER: So you are asking about animal welfare codes?

MS PORTER: Yes, yes, yes. The codes we are talking about.

MADAM SPEAKER: Yes—

MS PORTER: I am happy to read the question again—

MADAM SPEAKER: No, no, no; it is just that you did not say what sort of codes, and there are a whole lot of codes. So, on the basis that this is the animal welfare code, I call the minister for TAMS, Mr Rattenbury.

MR RATTENBURY: There are a range of codes in this area in addition to the new code for the sale of animals. The specific code on breeding, which Ms Porter has just asked me about, is an area that I think needs further work. I have asked TAMS and AWAC to conduct further work in the area of animal breeding in particular. I think this is an issue of some importance. I think there are significant concerns in the community about things like so-called puppy farms where there is room to make improvement to ensure that animal welfare standards are as high as they can be to meet community expectations.

I do not have an exact time frame on that work yet because of the nature of the group and the complexity of the issues. It takes some time to get this work done on occasions, but I hope to have an answer in reasonably good time because this is an area that requires further work. I will be happy to give the Assembly an update when those investigations have been undertaken.

Ms Gallagher: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Supplementary answers to questions without notice

ACT Ambulance Service—cardiac monitors

Health directorate—workers compensation

Health directorate—staff numbers

MS GALLAGHER: Today Mr Coe asked me a question around the procurement process for the 56 MRx monitors. It was an open tender process, as I did answer correctly. In relation to accuracy and stability, and whether they were criteria for


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