Petnet - Urban Animal Management Conference. Information on management of dogs and cats

Ros Riordan

New South Wales is currently in the process of developing legislation geared to the welfare of companion animals,

initially concentrating on cats and dogs although with the possibility, in future, of extension to cover other species.

This paper outlines the underlying philosophy of the legislation and the process being followed to undertake broad

community consultation on the issues and options proposed to be included in the legislation.

Some of the contentious issues which require further consultation are noted and the revised time frame for

developing the draft Bill is outlined.

Why a NSW Companion Animals Act?

The Government's commitment to developing legislation to protect cats as well as dogs was part of its election

promise to thoroughly overhaul the range of legislation dealing with the welfare of animals.

The trigger for this election commitment was the Government's response to changed expectations in the community

about the need to put in place legislation to more effectively protect animal welfare.

Having said that, I should ask you to remember that New South Wales is in the process of developing

legislation and that my comments at this stage about the provisions of the legislation are proposals which may

change as the draft Bill is subject to further consultation and Parliamentary debate.

Ros Riordan BA

Policy Adviser to the Minister for Local Government

Level 2, 151 Macquarie Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Telephone: (02) 9251 8498

Fax: (02) 9251 1442

Ros Riordan enjoys a peripatetic career in the community services industry and in public sector management. She has

worked for a number of local councils in rural NSW and metropolitan Sydney and came to work for the Minister on

a temporary basis in late 1995. Realising she has friends of both the human and animal variety, the Minister hijacked

her into staying on '..for just a few more months...' to work on the development of the NSW Companion Animals

Legislation. Ros expects to work for the Minister '...for just a few more months...'. She was likewise hijacked into

chairing the Companion Animals Working Party.