April 19, 2023
The State Government is considering tough new penalties for dog owners in the wake of recent tragedies.
An Animal Management Taskforce will consider increased penalties for owners of dogs that cause harm, bans on restricted breeds and the development of a community education program.
The taskforce is made up of Council representatives, the Local Government Association of Queensland and senior Department of Agriculture and Fisheries officers.
It will undertake a targeted review of the Animal Management (Cats & Dogs) Act 2008.
The proposed changes include a sliding scale of penalties depending on the severity of the attack, including jail for owners responsible for dogs that kill or cause grievous bodily harm to a person.
Other proposals to encourage responsible dog ownership include on-the-spot fines for off-the-leash dogs and a statewide ban on dog breeds which have been prohibited for import into Australia.
The taskforce will also consider actions suggested by councils, including the fast-tracking of decisions on the future of seized dangerous animals, a centralised database for microchipping details, extra enforcement provisions for unregistered and unmicrochipped animals and repeat offenders, and improved powers for council officers.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said better owner education was also critical to reducing dog bites.
Eighty per cent of bites occur in the home, with a majority of those by a dog that a person owns or is known to them.
A community education program targeted at children and dog owners has been proposed to the taskforce to combat this.
A paper detailing the proposed changes to the Act will be prepared for public consultation.
