KAP Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has objected to unfounded blanket bans on pest animal poisons and pronged dog collars laid out in an animal protection amendment bill he claims fails to address mounting concern over the RSPCA’s legal power.

 

Mr Katter said the Animal Care and Protection Amendment Bill 2022, tabled last week, manifestly failed to tackle legitimate and growing public concern about the RSPCA’s suitability as the delegated authority in enforcing the Animal Care and Protection Act.

 

In a Statement of Reservation, Mr Katter challenged the recommendation that the Bill be passed without changes, signalling amendments to proposed bans that he said were unfounded.

 

He called for the RSPCA to be stripped of its legal authority.

 

“I am concerned the State Development and Regional Industries Committee (SDRIC) has failed to adequately address evidence from the public consultation that undermines the validity of blanket bans on the use of certain poisons on pest animals, and using or possessing a pronged dog collar,” he said.

 

The use of poisons containing carbon disulphide and phosphorous (CSSP) on rampant and destructive feral pig populations was a non-desirable but necessary evil, he said, as funding for current control methods including baiting, trapping and shooting was “manifestly inadequate”.

 

“My concern, echoed by AgForce in its submission to the Bill, is that consultation on this issue has been insufficient,” Mr Katter said.

 

Banning pronged dog collars was also unsubstantiated and politically motivated, he claimed.

 

“I have become convinced, based on the evidence provided mostly by professional animal trainers, that this measure is unfounded; there is a severe lack of evidence that this ban will result in net benefits for the

welfare and training success of animals,” he said, adding that some animals could not be managed or trained using any other method.

 

The Bill’s proposal to introduce a breeding licence scheme for thoroughbred racehorses was another action driven by politics and not common sense, Mr Katter said.

 

“As thoroughbred breeders told the Committee, the scheme would only impose more rules and penalties and reduce investment in the Queensland industry; there are problems enough in the horse industry without the Government swooping in to attack for the sake of it.”

 

Mr Katter and the KAP strongly argued to revoke any legal authority that the RSPCA held under the Act.

 

Mr Katter’s non-Government Committee colleagues joined him in calling on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to consider making publicly available any Activity Agreement it had with RSPCA Queensland.

 

In place of the RSPCA, Mr Katter said locally-run, independent animal welfare organisations were often far more effective in protecting, rehabilitating and re-homing animals in need.

 

“These groups should be considered as conduits in improving animal welfare in our state and the Queensland Government should make efforts to empower and potentially fund these groups where appropriate,” he said.