ozpixie
05-12-2009, 09:35 AM
The latest in Orwellian Fascism here in Oz. It did not get a good reception from those who commented online.
I especially liked one writer's reference to the authorities as the "Tofu Taliban" :D
Walk your dog or cop big nip in the wallet
Article from: ANTONIA MAGEE, MELBOURNE news.com.au
December 04, 2009 11:15pm
OWNERS who don't walk their dogs at least once a day face punishment under animal welfare laws proposed by an RSPCA chief.
Under Dr Hugh Wirth's plan, cat and dog owners who do not care for their pets properly would face fines of up to $12,000 for animal cruelty and even jail in extreme cases.
Dr Wirth, the head of the Victorian RSPCA, is one of four experts appointed to draft national animal welfare guidelines by the Department of Agriculture. "The draft will tell people what they have to do rather than what they want to do," Dr Wirth said.
"The new standards would be regulatory, therefore a breach of the standards is a breach of the law."
Dr Wirth said the proposed laws would overcome problems animal inspectors have had penalising bad owners.
If Dr Wirth's proposal becomes law nationally, magistrates could consider jail in extreme cases. He said jail sentences would not be handed out for a first offence but it would be something available for magistrates to consider.
Dogs Victoria chief executive Elizabeth White said any strategy to protect pets was vital. "The idea of having some kind of prescribed welfare codes is really very, very important," she said.
But Ms White said the idea that the law would make it easier for RSPCA inspectors to enforce penalties was ambitious.
"The intent is fantastic. How you would actually go about putting a burden of proof on inspectors to say: 'This dog has only been walked once and not twice' . . . but I am being a bit picky when I say that," she said.
A spokesman for the federal Department of Agriculture said the working group was one of six looking at animal welfare.
"One of the goals of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is to develop national standards and guidelines for the care of different kinds of animals," a spokesman said.
"States and territories ultimately are responsible for legislating for animal welfare, not the Commonwealth."
Dr Wirth said the draft was in its early stages.
The working party is designed to create a national standard, but ultimately the laws would be have to be passed by state governments.
I especially liked one writer's reference to the authorities as the "Tofu Taliban" :D
Walk your dog or cop big nip in the wallet
Article from: ANTONIA MAGEE, MELBOURNE news.com.au
December 04, 2009 11:15pm
OWNERS who don't walk their dogs at least once a day face punishment under animal welfare laws proposed by an RSPCA chief.
Under Dr Hugh Wirth's plan, cat and dog owners who do not care for their pets properly would face fines of up to $12,000 for animal cruelty and even jail in extreme cases.
Dr Wirth, the head of the Victorian RSPCA, is one of four experts appointed to draft national animal welfare guidelines by the Department of Agriculture. "The draft will tell people what they have to do rather than what they want to do," Dr Wirth said.
"The new standards would be regulatory, therefore a breach of the standards is a breach of the law."
Dr Wirth said the proposed laws would overcome problems animal inspectors have had penalising bad owners.
If Dr Wirth's proposal becomes law nationally, magistrates could consider jail in extreme cases. He said jail sentences would not be handed out for a first offence but it would be something available for magistrates to consider.
Dogs Victoria chief executive Elizabeth White said any strategy to protect pets was vital. "The idea of having some kind of prescribed welfare codes is really very, very important," she said.
But Ms White said the idea that the law would make it easier for RSPCA inspectors to enforce penalties was ambitious.
"The intent is fantastic. How you would actually go about putting a burden of proof on inspectors to say: 'This dog has only been walked once and not twice' . . . but I am being a bit picky when I say that," she said.
A spokesman for the federal Department of Agriculture said the working group was one of six looking at animal welfare.
"One of the goals of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy is to develop national standards and guidelines for the care of different kinds of animals," a spokesman said.
"States and territories ultimately are responsible for legislating for animal welfare, not the Commonwealth."
Dr Wirth said the draft was in its early stages.
The working party is designed to create a national standard, but ultimately the laws would be have to be passed by state governments.