Tuesday, 29 October 2024

 Kat THEOPHANOUS (Northcote) (14:52): (865) My question is for the Minister for Agriculture, and I ask: what is the Victorian government doing to progress the national guiding principles for assistance animal standards and policies? My constituent Claire Moore has shared with me her daily struggle in simply trying to access public spaces with her assistance dog Zed. Despite Zed being clearly identifiable as an assistance dog, Claire still faces constant barriers in places many of us take for granted, like cafes and stores. These refusals are not just frustrating, they are discriminatory and unlawful. Yet too many venues are unaware of our laws, and the constant need to explain and justify an assistance dog is deeply distressing and exclusionary. Claire wants our laws to be stronger to ensure people with assistance animals are always treated with dignity and respect. She is calling for stronger penalties, such as those in other jurisdictions, along with greater education and support to ensure our laws are complied with. Victoria is now part of a national working group considering a consistent approach to assistance animals. I look forward to hearing about its progress.