Page 5238 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 29 November 2017

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nothing to empowering the registrar, but the opposition want to force the registrar in every instance. That is the difference. In every instance we will have rangers roaming the streets—every instance—around every corner, at every playground. We are focusing here on preventing serious attack, but when you say “must”, when you have “must” throughout the legislation—

Mr Hanson: We’re dealing with this clause. Explain it for this clause.

MS FITZHARRIS: Yes, but it is the same issue that we have had for previous ones and we are going to have for subsequent ones.

MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (12.38): It is worth noting that the registrar currently has a lot of discretion. If we are going to put in these clauses, it is to deal with the problems of discretion. I am flabbergasted that the minister thinks that it is reasonable, where there is an unacceptable risk to the safety of the public or other animals, that that could still be registered, a licence could still be granted. I just cannot imagine any circumstances where the government has determined that there is an unacceptable risk, yet it is going to allow the licence to go ahead. It is just outrageous. This is the very problem that our legislation tried to deal with, and the government just seems to be dodging this core issue.

MADAM SPEAKER: The question is that new clauses 5A to 5H be agreed to.

MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (12.39): Under standing order 133, I ask that the question be divided to deal with 5A and 5B to 5H separately.

MS FITZHARRIS (Yerrabi—Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Minister for Transport and City Services and Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research) (12.39): Madam Speaker, I am happy to agree to that if I have another opportunity to clarify an important point.

Ordered that that the question be divided.

Proposed new clause 5A agreed to.

Proposed new clauses 5B to 5H agreed to.

Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.

Sitting suspended from 12.40 to 2.30 pm.

Questions without notice

Animals—dangerous dogs

MR COE: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services. I refer to a dog attack in Watson in August in which a person went to hospital and received over 40 stitches. During this attack the dog was injured and taken to a vet. The


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