David Carter MP
National Party Agriculture Spokesman

21 June 2006

Victory for common sense as farm dogs get exemption from chip rule

National Party Agriculture spokesman David Carter is delighted that common sense has prevailed in the fight to get farm dogs exempted from Labour’s draconian microchipping measures.

“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to roll the Government on this aspect of the microchipping legislation. But I’m obviously disappointed that other responsible dog owners will still be stuck with this new dog tax.

“This is a significant defeat for the Government which was determined to ram through ‘one rule for all dogs’.”

But Mr Carter says domestic dog owners need to target their anger at those squabbling political parties which refused to dump this nonsensical microchipping rule.

“Along with Labour, the inflexible United Future and New Zealand First parties should wear their fair share of the blame.”

Mr Carter is commenting on the narrow vote in Parliament today, which has cleared the way for compulsory microchipping of dogs - excluding working dogs.

“This legislation is stupid. People will just disobey it.

“Everyone knows microchipping dogs will not stop a single attack. Those who break the laws now, will continue to do so.”

ENDS

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