Page 3854 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 25 September 2019
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Municipal services—dog management
MS LAWDER: My question is to the Minister for City Services: in a media release on 24 May 2019 you announced the addition of a new six-person compliance team that will be highly visible in the community issuing infringements for dog owners doing the wrong thing. In answer to a question on notice on 9 September 2019 you stated that the six-member team, called the compliance targeting team, issued no infringement notices in its first month of operation in July 2019. Minister, how often do you receive reports on the effectiveness of the new team and what have those reports told you so far?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question and note that the media release provided that information. I also provided Ms Lawder with information in response to a question on notice. The compliance targeting team has been highly visible in the Canberra community. They have been targeting a range of different areas under city services legislation such as the Litter Act, the Public Unleased Land Act and domestic animals legislation.
Education is a key part of the compliance pyramid and they have started in relation to domestic animal matters with an education approach. They have undertaken 847 engagements thus far; 526 of these related to dog control. In all cases the owners involved were educated about their responsibilities in relation to dog control and responsible pet ownership in general. Only three warning notices have been issued and in fact one infringement notice has been issued.
MS LAWDER: Minister, of the notices issued, have any of them been for a second or subsequent offence?
MR STEEL: I am happy to come back to Ms Lawder on notice in relation to that question.
MR MILLIGAN: Minister, will you table the reports on the effectiveness of the new team by close of business today?
MR STEEL: I have already issued a media release in relation to the activities of the compliance team, and I will continue to monitor the activities of the compliance team. It is a six-month pilot. I have already said that I would undertake an evaluation of the pilot to see the effectiveness of it in relation to the activities, which span a much greater area than just domestic animals.
Environment—climate change strategy
MR MILLIGAN: My question is to the Member for Yerrabi, Mr Gupta. Mr Gupta, my question relates to your motion on the government’s climate change strategy. I have been contacted by a number of residents in Gungahlin—
Mr Gentleman: On a point of order—
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