Tuesday, 1 August 2023

Ministers statements: animal welfare

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (14:14): Animal welfare is a priority of the Andrews Labor government. That is why over the last month we have delivered Victoria’s first ever pet census to help shape the future of animal welfare and ensure pet owners have the support and services they need. The pet census, which closed over the weekend, asked Victorians a variety of questions to gather important information on pet ownership and the attitudes and experiences of owners and Victorians without pets too. I am very grateful to the more than 30,000 Victorians that have completed the census. This was an overwhelming response that will provide the government with a very comprehensive snapshot of our companion animals.

The census data will help us improve our services and provide better quality support to pets, pet owners and community organisations.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, can you take your seat for one second. Can the clock be reset to 2 minutes, please. The minister does not need any help. I call the minister, from the top.

Gayle TIERNEY: Animal welfare is a priority of the Andrews Labor government. That is why over the last month we have delivered Victoria’s first ever pet census to help shape the future of animal welfare and ensure pet owners have the support and services they need. The pet census, which closed over the weekend, asked Victorians a variety of questions to gather important information on pet ownership and the attitudes and experiences of owners and Victorians without pets too. I am grateful to the more than 30,000 Victorians that completed the census. This was an overwhelming response that will provide the government with a very comprehensive snapshot of our companion animals.

The census data will help us improve our services and provide better quality support to pets, pet owners and community organisations. Current available data is often focused on cats and dogs or other very specific animal groups or welfare issues. The census will help close this knowledge and data gap, giving us a zoomed-out view of Victoria’s pets. Early results show Victorians love their dogs and cats but also have a wide –

Members interjecting.

Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, I reflect on your earlier ruling when you asked to have the minister’s clock reset, because the level of noise in here is out of control. I cannot even hear what the minister is saying, and I am sitting directly behind her. I think the minister needs to be heard in silence.

The PRESIDENT: I uphold Ms Terpstra’s point of order. To my frustration, after calling the minister to start from the top, there has been noise coming from all directions, which kind of did not help. Let us have a crack at letting the minister get her last 45 seconds in silence. That would be great.

Gayle TIERNEY: Thank you, President. Early results show Victorians love their dogs and cats but they also have a wide array of other interesting animals, including turtles, lizards, snakes and insects.

A member: And donkeys.

Gayle TIERNEY: And donkeys. The data that has been gathered will help shape the next generation of pet and animal welfare reforms and builds on the significant investment of our government that has already been made in supporting animal welfare and community organisations.