8 August 2005

Dog code claims grossly inaccurate

The National Party has again tried to mislead New Zealanders, with its claim that the government has considered and approved a new dog code.

"I presume Dr Smith is talking about the pre-draft draft of the dog code, which is still being developed by the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC)," Mr O'Connor said. "The code hasn't even been considered by the NAWAC yet, let alone come before me as Minister.

"How Dr Smith can claim it's Labour Party policy is therefore quite beyond me.

"Our Animal Welfare legislation is very clear – it's for the industry to draft codes of welfare. The codes then go to NAWAC for consideration, expert opinion is sought on them, they're amended, then finalised, and then the public is consulted. They then go back to NAWAC for rewriting, and finally, they're sent to the Minister for approval.

"In other words, the government is a long way off having anything to do with this code.

"Unfortunately, this looks like yet another of Nick Smith's fabrications. Otherwise it's an embarrassing demonstration of his ignorance of the Animal Welfare Act. Either way, he should get his facts straight rather than insist on misleading the public."

ENDS

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