Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3348] 
7.  
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (NZ National—Port Waikato) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: What weight can people put on his stated intention to act quickly to prevent dog attacks when the Government has let the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) which contains provisions to strengthen dog laws languish on the Order Paper for the last 3 years? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 That member should be aware that the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) is very narrow in scope. A broader range of options will need to be developed in order to provide the public with a serious and workable response to the dog control issue. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Why has it taken a string of dog attacks over the last few weeks for the Government even to consider doing anything when statistics show a steady increase in the number of serious dog-attack injuries resulting in hospitalisation over the last 15 years? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Undoubtedly the recent attacks have focused all our minds on that tragedy. I might add that I do not recall the National Party either during the time it was in Government or during the period that it has been in Opposition raising the issue before. 
David Cunliffe 
: Have any groups expressed concern about the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) as it exists? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Yes. The bill is very narrow. There was a great deal of concern about its practicality and the provisions in the bill did not receive wide support. There was strong opposition from key stakeholders including the New Zealand Veterinary Association and Local Government New Zealand. 
Dail Jones 
: Will the Minister cooperate with other political parties in the House to prepare a resolution requesting an appropriate select committee to consider the wonderful submission on dog control law reform prepared by Mr John Anderson with a view to reporting back to the House by 12 May 2003 with amendments to the Dog Control Act and to passing legislation by 31 August 2003? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Today I together with the Prime Minister and other members of Parliament met Mr John Anderson. We went through the questions he raised which that member referred to. There were many issues in that submission that we hope the select committee will give very careful consideration to. I am glad that that member has raised the question of cross-party support. I am very keen to get action on that issue as soon as possible. We need it at a select committee as soon as possible. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: Does the Minister agree that the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) was thoroughly considered by the select committee after 54 public submissions in 1999 and can he assure the public that satisfactory dog control legislation will be put before the House in the next 3 months; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: As I hope all members are aware the Government is using that bill to broaden the whole range of options in order to deal with that issue. The bill actually deals just with banning a particular breed of dog. That may or may not be helpful in dealing with the issue. There are many other very important issues that we need to look at in order to deal with that problem.