Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill – Second Reading speech
Tuesday 4 February 2025
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:10): I rise to indicate my support for the Dog and Cat Management (Breeder Reforms) Amendment Bill 2024, a bill that bans large-scale puppy farms which increase the risk of animal cruelty, introduces a new breeder licensing scheme and increases the fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. This bill is the fulfilment of another Malinauskas Labor election commitment. Our election commitment was to ban puppy factories and to prevent any such operation from setting up in South Australia. No animal should be housed in inhumane conditions, forced to constantly breed, with their puppies then to be sold in a pet shop to an unsuspecting family.
The commitment was to ensure that standards governing commercial breeding of companion animals in South Australia are at least as strict as any jurisdiction in the nation, so that there is no incentive for unscrupulous operators to move here to establish their core operation. This bill addresses this issue, implements strict standards and brings South Australia into line with Victoria, currently the strictest jurisdiction for breeding programs in the nation.
The new breeder licensing scheme will require breeders to adhere to strict standards for breeding, and adhere to limits on the number of female animals per breeding program and the number of litters that may be bred by the licensed holder. Breeders will have to apply for licences and will not receive licences if they, or a current spouse or domestic partner of the applicant, have been found guilty of a prescribed offence within the five years immediately preceding that application. Fines of up to $10,000 will apply for breeding animals without a licence, or contravening a condition of licence, as well as the ability to suspend and cancel breeder licences.
The board must keep and maintain a register for the purposes of this bill and the bill introduces offences relating to the sale of certain dogs and cats. Mandatory reporting of each litter will also be introduced, along with reporting if a fertile female dog or cat, owned by the licence holder, or under the control of which the licence holder is responsible, dies, is desexed, or otherwise ceases to be part of the licence holder's breeding program.
I will now move on to another aspect of this bill, relating to increases in the fines and penalties for offences associated with dogs wandering at large, dog attacks and other safety offences. We have sadly seen a number of dog attacks in recent times and unfortunately another headline this morning of a baby who is now in hospital after being attacked by a dog in the family home. That is a terrible situation for that family.
As we know from the current Good Dogs Have Bad Days campaign, any dog can bite, and last year over 500 South Australians were admitted to hospital for dog bite-related treatment and recovery. It is an offence for a dog to attack, harass or chase people or pets. Dogs, as we know, are not usually deliberately aggressive. This is often a response to fear, perceived threats or behaviours caused by their environment or the people around them. This bill states that if a dog attacks a person or another animal, causing serious injury or death, the owner will face a maximum fine of $25,000 instead of the $2,500 penalty that currently applies. Additionally, the fine will be up to $50,000 if the attacking dog was already the subject of a dangerous dog order—an increase from $10,000.
If a council animal management officer has assessed a dog to be potentially dangerous, it must wear a collar to identify it. This collar warns others to give this dog space. These collars have yellow and red diagonal stripes. Any dog of any breed or any size could be a dangerous dog. The changes to the bill further allow for the recognition of certain interstate orders, allowing the minister, on application, to recognise interstate dangerous dog orders or prohibition orders. This amendment aims to manage the risk identified in another jurisdiction without having to wait for an attack or incident to occur in South Australia.
This bill also introduces subclauses regarding a new 'wandering dog' order to manage dogs which continually escape. The new order will stipulate reasonable steps to be taken by the owner to prevent the dog escaping and to attend training where appropriate. Dogs should not be wandering beyond their homes, as they can become frightened, lost, attack people or wildlife or, unfortunately, be struck by a vehicle.
Finally, this bill removes the requirement for greyhounds having retired from racing to wear a muzzle. This will bring South Australia into line with other states, free these beautiful animals to fully enjoy their environment and reduce barriers to greyhound adoption. On that note, I will give a shout-out to Gibson's favourite adopted greyhound, Grandpa Joe, who is currently staying cool in our electorate office today. Once again, I cannot give a speech in this house without giving a shout-out to Freya. Happy 10th birthday for last week. She is the most magnificent addition to our family. Despite the fact that she went blind last year, she is an absolute delight every single day. I commend dogs to the house.
