Dog Fence Act Amendment 1978

22 August 1978 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL p619

Second Reading

Received from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

The Hon. T, M. CASEY (Minister of Lands): I move:

That this Bill be now read a second time.

This short Bill is designed to bring provisions in the principal Act, the Dog Fence Act, 1946-1975, providing for the payment and recovery of rates and special rates, into line with the corresponding provisions in the Vertebrate Pests Act, 1975-1977. As rates are imposed under both Acts on the same lands, .this amendment should enable the rates to be notified and recovered jointly and thereby reduce administrative costs. In addition, the Bill includes a minor amendment requested by the Auditor-General. I seek leave to have the explanation of the clauses inserted in Hansard without my reading it.

Leave granted.

Explanation of Clauses

Clause 1 is formal. Clause 2 provides that the measure come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation. Clause 3 amends the definition of “occupier” so that it corresponds to the definitions in the Vertebrate Pests Act, 1975-1977. Clause 4 inserts a new section 27 in the principal Act which corresponds to the provision providing for the payment and recovery of rates under the Vertebrate Pests Act, 1975-1977. Clause 5 repeals the present provisions dealing with the payment and recovery of rates. Clause 6 amends section 34 of the principal Act which requires the Dog Fence Board to prepare an annual “balance-sheet” by requiring it instead to prepare an annual “statement of receipts and payments”.

The Hon. R. A. GEDDES secured the adjournment of the debate.