Media statement

February 24, 2022

Tania Maxwell MP has asked Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas to detail how much the state government reinvests in Campaspe Shire communities to promote responsible pet ownership.

The Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party Member for Northern Victoria, in Parliament on Tuesday, said the government receives about $45,000 every year from the council, or $4.16 for every registered dog and cat in the shire.

“These payments are intended to be used by the government to promote responsible ownership, administer the Domestic Animals Act 1994, support animal welfare and fund research into domestic animal management,” Ms Maxwell said.

“But Campaspe council spends anywhere from $800,000 to $1 million every year from ratepayer funds on shelter operations, and these are basically at capacity all the time, because there’s no time limit on the council keeping animals assessed as suitable for re-homing.

“The shelters also need to expand in order to meet demand, and this will cost $525,000 for Campaspe’s cat facility to remain compliant.”

Ms Maxwell said council staff managing abandoned, surrendered or unclaimed pets and animals cared about the creatures in council shelters.

“They would love them to find their forever home but, for some, the reality is that it never happens,” she said.

“This is a sad fate for the animals, but it is also an enormous burden on our councils to find them homes, homes which may never come, and meanwhile keep them fed, watered, healthy, exercised and given love and attention.

“Campaspe council suggested to me that 60 days would be more than enough time to determine if an animal will find a home.

“Now, I do not want headlines that I am saying here, ‘Kill the cats’, because I am not saying that at all.

“But I think we need to recognise the absence of reasonable time frames, which has consequences. It’s not good for the animals, and it costs councils and ratepayers a lot of money.”

Ms Maxwell said her Northern Victoria electorate included 27 councils.

“This means there’s a lot of expense to local government across the region for domestic animal management and a lot of money gathered by the government from its domestic animal registration levy,” she said.

“Given the rates at which pets are abandoned, it is clear that many people become pet owners probably with the best of intentions but without a clear understanding of the responsibility and costs associated with pet ownership.

“Education is a very important prevention tool to encourage people to consider this responsibility before taking on a pet.

“I think it is incumbent on the government, having collected these funds from councils and from ratepayers, to give transparent and comprehensive feedback on the expenditure of those funds in our local communities.”