Legislative Council
25 November 1998
 
 
DOGS, WILD

 Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. Ian Gilfillan:
 That a select committee be established to inquire into and report upon wild dog issues in the State of South Australia, specificallyó
 I.  The method of raising funds for the maintenance of the dog fence with a view to making collection more equitable, ieó
  (a) whether any change in collection method is justified and, if so, what changes would be necessary to make collection more equitable; and
  (b) to recommend any consequential changes to the Dog Fence Act.
 II.  Issues associated with control of wild dogs inside the dog fence, ieó
  (a) to what extent wild dogs are causing problems inside the dog fence, particularly in parks such as the Ngarkat Conservation Park;
  (b) how those problems can or should be fairly addressed;
  (c) how the presence of wild dogs inside the dog fence affects the equity of dog fence payment collection; and
  (d) to recommend any consequential changes to the Dog Fence Act.
 III. Describing and/or quantifying other significant benefits and costs associated with maintaining the dog fence, including but not limited to the effect of the dog fence upon other native species.
 IV. That Standing Order 389 be suspended as to enable the Chairperson of the committee to have a deliberative vote only.
 V.  That this Council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it thinks fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being reported to the Council.
 VI. That Standing Order 396 be suspended to enable strangers to be admitted when the select committee is examining witnesses unless the committee otherwise resolves, but they shall be excluded when the committee is deliberating.
 (Continued from 4 November.)
 
  The Hon. K.T. GRIFFIN (Attorney-General): There has been some consultation with the Minister for Primary Industries, Natural Resources and Regional Development about this motion. He is the Minister responsible for the Dog Fence Act. He has indicated to me that he is aware of concerns with the current method of raising funds for the maintenance of the dog fence and supports the development of a more equitable method to collect the funds. He points out that the current rating system was developed by the Dog Fence Board in consultation with the South Australian Farmers Federation, and the system that was developed relies on charging levies set by the board on all properties south of the dog fence which are more than 10 square kilometres in area.
 The Minister acknowledges that the current system may be inequitable because many of these rated properties do not carry livestock, while other properties that carry livestock are not charged because they are smaller than 10 square kilometres in area. The Minister discussed the issue with the South Australian Farmers Federation, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources and the Dog Fence Board and then approached the Local Government Association with a proposal for councils to collect the levies on an equitable basis. It must be remembered that section 27A of the Dog Fence Act does provide for the collection of the levies by local government.
 However, member councils of the Local Government Association have refused to collect the levies, mainly on the ground that they assert that they are not rate collection agencies for the State Government. The Minister has formed a committee within the Department of Primary Industries and Resources to review the Dog Fence Act, and that will include a review of the need for the dog fence and the collection of levies to maintain it. The process for the review during 1999 is currently being developed and will involve a series of public meetings throughout the State and meetings with relevant peak agencies prior to the production of a green paper. The green paper will then be circulated widely for public comment.
 The control of dingoes inside the dog fence is the responsibility of the Animal and Plant Control Commission, under the provisions of the Animal and Plant Control Act. Much of this control occurs in pastoral areas and is supported by funds collected from all landowners-lessees in the State having properties greater than 10 square kilometres out of local government areas. The funds are matched by the State Government. However, the commission contributes funds and provides technical expertise for the control of dingoes coming from the Ngarkat and Billiatt Conservation Parks through a local prescribed control body under the Animal and Plant Control Act. The Minister also informs me that the Government's review of the Dog Fence Act will also address the cost benefit of the dog fence, including its effects on native animals.
 With that background, I indicate that the Government opposes the establishment of a select committee into this matter. As I have noted, the Minister has acknowledged that a review of the situation is required, but a select committee, in the Government's view, would only duplicate and complicate the extensive review process that has been initiated by the Department of Primary Industries and Resourcesóa process that is proposed to involve extensive community consultation.
 The other point to make is that we already have a number of select committees. As a Parliament we have a number of standing committees. If the matter is to be the subject of inquiry by a parliamentary committee, it would be preferable, in the Government's view, for that to be the Environment, Resources and Development Committee, rather than yet another select committee that will have to be separately serviced. In conclusion, the Government opposes the motion.
 
  The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I am rather disappointed that the Government has chosen to oppose this motion. The Opposition will be supporting it, because we believe that it has some merit.


 I am disappointed that the Government has chosen another internal inquiry rather than the more open process that a select committee offers.   I congratulate the Hon. Ian Gilfillan on putting this matter forward. I believe that he has tapped into an area of concern in the community. We in the Opposition will work constructively to find a resolution to what has clearly been a very vexed problem in this area. From speaking to several of the graziers who are affected, I believe that they are realistic and they accept that they may not get everything. All they want is a proper, fair hearing that a select committee would give them, and proper and due consideration given to the problem. Again, I commend the Hon. Ian Gilfillan for bringing this matter forward. The Opposition is pleased to support it.
 
  The Hon. IAN GILFILLAN: I thank the Hon. Paul Holloway for his clear and unequivocal support for the motion. I am disappointed at the Government's attitude and think that it may live to regret it. It is bizarre to recollect that, when this matter was discussed earlier, and it was referred to by the Hon. Paul Holloway in his contribution, the Minister did not appear to have any solution, certainly none that he was prepared to offer to me. He gave no indication that there was to be an internal committee, and that was in spite of the fact that I went to him directly with the request from the Farmers Federation, which had despaired of being able to find an answer and leapt on the suggestion that there be a select committee.
 There are many advantages of a select committee, but the one that stands out for people who have not felt satisfied with the contribution by Governments for some years in trying to solve this problem is that a select committee, particularly this one, is clear of any governmental control or direction and should be able to come up with an impartial and acceptable solution.
 The Hon. T.G. Roberts: And intelligent.
 The Hon. IAN GILFILLAN: Very intelligent, especially as I see the names that have been proffered to serve on the committee. The Hon. Terry Roberts predicts a very intelligent outcome. Moving aside from prejudgment of how the committee will hand down its report, it is appropriate that I acknowledge that I have had a communication from the officer who is either convening or heading the Minister's committee, offering total and open cooperation with the select committee. I respect that. Whatever smallness there is in the Government's mind towards this select committee, thank goodness it does not extend to the members of the department who will be working on the committee.
 Without labouring the point, I have every confidence that the members who are nominated to serve on this committee from the Government side will contribute free of any prejudice or pettiness and will give it their best. I hope that we, as a committee and through this Parliament, can put to rest this ulcerating sore that has bothered quite a large proportion of the rural sector, particularly the sheep husbandry section, for many years. I expect that we will have majority support in the Chamber to set up the select committee and I have had indications that both the Independent members support the motion, so there is a substantial majority in favour of it. I thank the Chamber for supporting it.
 Motion carried.
 
The Council appointed a select committee consisting of the Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins, the Hon. Ian Gilfillan, the Hon. P. Holloway, the Hon. A.J. Redford and the Hon. R.R. Roberts; the committee to have power to send for persons, papers and records, and to adjourn from place to place; the committee to report on Wednesday 24 March 1999.
 

 

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