❓ Hon Amanda Dorn questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding DPIRD's enforcement of animal welfare regulations in saleyards, specifically concerning inspector training, enforcement actions, and conflict of interest management. The Minister provides details on training, enforcement, and conflict of interest policies.
AnsweredQoN 174Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Animal welfare—Saleyards
174. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the
Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations
2020, under which the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
has primary enforcement responsibility in Western Australian saleyards, and to the
2020 Animal Welfare Act review panel's recommendation that DPIRD reinforce
inspector training and competency.
(1) What training do DPIRD inspectors
receive about animal welfare requirements and the intent of the regulations?
(2) Since the regulations came into force
in October 2020, how many infringement notices have been issued and
prosecutions initiated at Western Australian saleyards?
(3) What framework does DPIRD apply to
identify and manage perceived, possible or actual conflicts of interest for
inspectors responsible for enforcing the regulations at saleyards, and how is
compliance with that framework monitored?
The President: That might be a bit of a long question,
honourable member, contravening standing order 105. The tell is actually the
speed with which you have to read the question out.
174. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the
Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations
2020, under which the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
has primary enforcement responsibility in Western Australian saleyards, and to the
2020 Animal Welfare Act review panel's recommendation that DPIRD reinforce
inspector training and competency.
(1) What training do DPIRD inspectors
receive about animal welfare requirements and the intent of the regulations?
(2) Since the regulations came into force
in October 2020, how many infringement notices have been issued and
prosecutions initiated at Western Australian saleyards?
(3) What framework does DPIRD apply to
identify and manage perceived, possible or actual conflicts of interest for
inspectors responsible for enforcing the regulations at saleyards, and how is
compliance with that framework monitored?
The President: That might be a bit of a long question,
honourable member, contravening standing order 105. The tell is actually the
speed with which you have to read the question out.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development training program consists of online training,
on-the-job assessment, mentoring and industry-specific components. The
principles of enforcement are general and applied by inspectors each time in
each place and circumstance to support the objects of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 .
(2) One hundred and twenty warnings and
16 infringement notices have been issued under the Animal Welfare (Transport,
Saleyards and Depots)(Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020, which are not
location specific. No prosecutions have been initiated.
(3) DPIRD
inspectors are required to comply with the Public
Sector Management Act 1994 . DPIRD has conflict of interest policies
and procedures that apply to all employees and outline and reinforce the
department's commitment to accountable and ethical decision-making by ensuring
awareness of relevant legislative requirements and applying a consistent
approach to managing conflicts of interest.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development training program consists of online training,
on-the-job assessment, mentoring and industry-specific components. The
principles of enforcement are general and applied by inspectors each time in
each place and circumstance to support the objects of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 .
(2) One hundred and twenty warnings and
16 infringement notices have been issued under the Animal Welfare (Transport,
Saleyards and Depots)(Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020, which are not
location specific. No prosecutions have been initiated.
(3) DPIRD
inspectors are required to comply with the Public
Sector Management Act 1994 . DPIRD has conflict of interest policies
and procedures that apply to all employees and outline and reinforce the
department's commitment to accountable and ethical decision-making by ensuring
awareness of relevant legislative requirements and applying a consistent
approach to managing conflicts of interest.
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