By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor
The Government believes it has found a way to fast-track new laws to control dangerous dogs and bypass Act's objections to hasty legislation.
Prime Minister Helen Clark disclosed the plan yesterday when she met John Anderson, father of 7-year-old Carolina Anderson, the girl whose mauling
sparked calls for tougher dog laws.
The Government's move, which has the backing of United Future, seems certain to circumvent a procedural veto by Act leader Richard Prebble.
At the 30-minute meeting, Mr Anderson showed Helen Clark and Local Government Minister Chris Carter pictures of his daughter taken after the attack. He did not release them to the media.
"They were horrific. There is no other way to describe them," Helen Clark said.
She added that a law change was urgent.
"It's clear that it is no longer satisfactory to have breeds known to be dangerous wandering the streets unleashed and unmuzzled.
"Something has to be done about it at the level of the law."
Mr Prebble on Tuesday refused leave for the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) to be referred to a select committee, saying rushed law was often bad law.
At first the Government believed it would have to draft a new law from scratch, which would slow down any changes.
But Helen Clark said the local government bill, which would ban american pit bull terriers and allow other breeds to be added to the restricted list, could be sent to a select committee by passing a non-debatable motion next week.
Officials would then set out the full range of options for tightening the law, including stiffer penalties, requirements to leash or muzzle dogs and ways to clarify the rights of dog rangers to enter private property.
"I can sense from the way the debate's now going in the media that some in the dog lobby who don't want any restrictions are starting to come out of the woodwork," Helen Clark said. "But I think what has happened over this horrific attack is that people are motivated now by the public safety concerns - the knowledge that Carolina could have been dead."
But Mr Prebble was unrepentant and said he would oppose the plan to fast-track new law.
The Government should outline precisely what it wanted to do. "They are asking Parliament to pass alaw they haven't yet thought of."
He did not have a set of proposals himself, but some being advocated presented serious problems. Veterinarians had told him laws banning certain breeds in the US had become "a lawyers' picnic" because the definitions of breeds and cross-breeds were so unclear.
"Would an exemption for working dogs include guard dogs. Would sheep dogs produce their IRD number?"
He accepted that there was a problem with dangerous dogs.
"But let's have some laws that are capable of being enforced."
Mr Anderson, who held separate meetings with National leader Bill English and a cross-party group of 20 MPs, said he was happy with the Prime Minister's response.
"I would encourage her and all parliamentarians in all parties to collaborate to ensure the speediness of some effective changes to the legislation."
ACC Minister Lianne Dalziel told Parliament that ACC received 7978 dog bite claims in the year to last June. She said the total cost for treatment, compensation and rehabilitation was $669,000.
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.