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FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1979
THE SPOKESMAN SAID STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC TO THE NEED FOR A RESIDENT OR NEW ARRIVAL TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION AND FOR A PARENT TO MAKE ANY CHANGE, IF DESIRED IN RESPECT OF THE NAME OF A CHILD BEFORE HE REACHES THE AGE OF 11.
REFERRING TO THE EXTENSION OF THE TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: IT OFTEN HAPPENS THAT OFFENCES UNDER THE REGULATIONS ARE NOT DETECTED UNTIL SOME YEARS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.*
ANOTHER BILL, THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, WILL ALSO BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY TO AMEND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE SO AS TO AUTHORISE THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY CARRYING AND PRODUCTION OF IDENTITY CARDS.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (AMENDMENT) BILL PROPOSED
TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENFORCEMENT
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THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (AMENDMENT) BILL, GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE MONETARY PENALTY FROM $1,000 TO $5,000.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT PROPOSES THE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING POWERS OF ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT TO OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF THE RANK OF FIELD OFFICER IF OR ABOVE AUTHORISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1935 AND THE LAST AMENDMENTS WERE MADE IN 1960.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS DESIRABLE TO AMEND SOME OF THE EXISTING PROVISIONS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENFORCEMENT.
HE SAID THAT WHILE A SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER, HEALTH OFFICER, HEALTH INSPECTOR OR A POLICE OFFICER WERE EMPOWERED UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT ANY PERSON SUSPECTED OF CAUSING CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, SIMILAR POWERS WERE NOT EXTENDED TO FIELD STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WHO WERE MOST LIKELY TO COME ACROSS OFFENCES INVOLVING CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
WHEN THEY COME ACROSS SUCH SUSPECTED INCIDENTS, THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE SCENE TO SUMMONS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE POLICE OR OTHER AUTHORISED PERSONNEL, DURING WHICH TIME THE SUSPECT COULD ESCAPE OR REMOVE THE EVIDENCE.
IT IS ALSO PROPOSED TO:
* EMPOWER A MAGISTRATE TO MAKE AN ORDER DEPRIVING AN OWNER
OF HIS OWNERSHIP OF AN ANIMAL UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES-
* EXTEND THE PRESENT POWER OF SEARCH TO VEHICLES, TRAINS,
TRAMS AND AIRCRAFT- AND
* PERMIT AN ANIMAL TO BE DESTROYED IN CERTAIN CASES WHERE
JT IS TRAPPED.
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