Fitzsimons Jeanette: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:3838] 
JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 This afternoon Parliament is certainly creating a dog’s breakfast. We are passing a law that is unenforceable. We have been told by council dog control officers that distinguishing between farm dogs working dogs and other dogs simply will not be feasible. I predict that this issue will be back here before very long and Parliament will be revisiting what has happened today. 
I certainly hope that is so and I imagine that is why four of my colleagues decided in the end to support the amendment to exempt farm dogs even though none of us actually believes we should have exemptions for one category of dog and not for others. The only principled position here is that either microchipping will save children’s lives and therefore every dog should be microchipped or microchipping will not save children’s lives and no dog should be microchipped except for those dogs that have been classified as menacing or dangerous. One can make a case for microchipping them; such dogs have not yet done enough to deserve to be shot but they are on notice and they need to be watched. 
That is what the Green Party tried to achieve with a member’s bill which failed by one vote. That is what we did achieve in the Local Government and Environment Committee with an amendment which then got knocked out in the House. That is what we tried to achieve throughout the debate on the Committee stage of this bill. Only when all of those options had been exhausted and there was no possibility of knocking out microchipping for all harmless dogs did four of my colleagues decide they would go with the amendment to exempt farm dogs. It was not because they thought it was a good idea—one could argue that it was because they thought half a loaf was better than none—but mainly I believe because they thought it would make the law unworkable and we would then have another chance to knock out microchipping for other dogs as well. 
We know that having a microchip will not prevent a dog from savaging a child. We know that it will not make it any easier to find out what dog savaged the child. If people see the dog do it they know the dog; if they do not see the dog do it the fact that it has a microchip in it will not help to identify it. It is not a locator beacon; it will not help people find the dog. We know that we cannot distinguish between farm dogs and other dogs. But it seemed to have become an article of faith with some that once this legislation had got as far as this it had to be driven through. 
It was possible for four of my colleagues to decide to vote differently from Metiria and myself because in the Green Party if a matter is not a policy that has been determined by the party and that members signed up to when they came here then after a debate in caucus we are free to disagree. That is what has happened today. I do not agree with my four colleagues but I absolutely uphold their right to vote in the way they did this afternoon. 
I fear that that provision may make things more difficult for urban dog owners because the strongest lobby group against microchipping has now been silenced. I challenge Federated Farmers to join with urban dog owners to continue to oppose this legislation rather than their just feeling relief that they are out of jail and never mind anybody else. However I predict that the legislation will be back here. It is bad law and the Greens have done what we can. [ 
Interruption 
] Yes if United Future and New Zealand First had been prepared to listen to the facts maybe we would have had a different outcome. But this is where we are and we have done our best. 
Clause 1 agreed to. 
Clause 2 agreed to. 
The Committee divided the bill into the Dog Control Amendment Bill the Litter Amendment Bill the Local Electoral Amendment Bill the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill the Local Government Act 1974 Amendment Bill the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Bill the Rates Rebate Amendment Bill and the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 2) pursuant to Supplementary Order Paper 42. 
Bill to be reported with amendment presently.