Guest guest Posted November 8, 2002 Report Share Posted November 8, 2002 November 08, 2002 MPs row over cruelty laws By Daniel Clery THE State Government's long-awaited animal cruelty Bill was brought on for debate yesterday, after bizarre last-minute dealings in the Legislative Council. Government leader in the Upper House Kim Chance made a surprise decision to begin debating the Animal Welfare Bill yesterday afternoon, just hours after the Council passed an Opposition motion to debate the legislation next Tuesday. The Government had attempted to block that motion, seeking a commitment that the laws would not be debated until the Railway (Jandakot to Perth) Bill passed. The animal cruelty laws have sat before the Council for 14 months. Mr Chance's subsequent decision to debate the Bill immediately drew criticism from all other parties in the Council. They accused the Government of a scramble for the moral high ground that had left some Opposition members unprepared to debate it fully. The Government has come under growing pressure to pass the legislation and was criticised by the RSPCA for not including the Bill in a list of priority pieces of legislation given to the Opposition this week. The Bill raises maximum penalties for cruelty offences to $50,000 and five years jail, up from $5000 and one year. It allows magistrates to ban offenders from owning animals again. Opposition Upper House leader Norman Moore said it was unfortunate important legislation had been allowed to languish for 14 months before being brought on for debate through a game of " silly buggers " . " They have been going out in the community spreading rubbish that we are holding this important legislation up, " Mr Moore said. " Yet today they showed where their priorities really lie. " But Mr Chance said the Opposition had showed its true colours by refusing a Government offer to sit into the evening until the Bill was passed. " The reality is that the Opposition is using whatever device it can to delay our legislative program - if they were genuine about passing this Bill then they should have been prepared to work a little harder tonight, " Mr Chance said. RSPCA spokeswoman Rachael Cochrane welcomed news that the Bill would be debated and called on MLCs from all parties not to further politicise the welfare of animals. The Bill is expected to pass through Parliament next week. © 2002 West Australian Newspapers Limited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.