Bird sale anouncement Victoria all states ???

[Craig52]

Yes i read that on Facebook Sam. The guarantee thing got up my nose, you have to guarantee the buyer that your bird wont drop dead but how do you go about shonkey buyers putting your birds leg ring on a dead bird and claiming that your bird died.
It's full of loop holes and political madness.
Why is the Government passing the buck to Councils that have a ABN, they are a business not Government so they will jump to get some easy money in their coffers. Craig

[gomer]

It will be interesting about the vet having to be in attendance at all sales from what I read elsewhere ??. Will the vet need to check every bird prior to sale or after purchace ? Or a general walk around with stewards. Having a Vet maybe ok for big sales for a general walk around for a few hours. I would imagine small country sales may struggle to pay the bill if this is so. Lots of questions to come I am sure.

[wcgpaff]

They want animal sale permits for all bird sales that are not from a pet shop or private residence.

Is this a loophole? Using a big shed on private property for bird sales

[SamDavis]

On behalf of the Canary & Cage Bird Federation of Australia Inc. I have written to representatives of all major bird groups operating in Victoria with an urgent proposal for action. Clubs are urgently working to comment, approve and offer their support. This proposal has also been put to various other affected animal groups including Dogs Victoria. I'm currently making contact with those representing cats, rabbits, cavies, rats/mice and reptiles. Support from all animal groups with operations in Victoria is eagerly sought to maximise the probability of successfully fighting this mess.

Regards,
Sam
(As Vice President of Canary & Cage Bird Federation of Australia Inc.)

[gomer]

Hope we can still get some amendments Sam.Big Task you have taken on not what they thought would happen Im sure.

[finchbreeder]

Fair enough to guarantee that your bird has no disease that you could reasonably be expected to know about. But that it will not die because some dill puts it in an avairy with large parrotts and no cover to hide in? This happened to me, fortunately when i politely explained what they had done wrong the person was able to see the error of their ways. But many will always blame the seller. I have lost birds I bought within the first month, for no apparent reason. Some just do no cope with some aspect of the change, or have an invisible weakness. Or something startles them that does not present a problem to other birds. These people need to be realistic. Use the wording of my first sentance and all will be good. Good luck to you all, because if it gets in there it will spread to other states at some future time, and maybe not too far in the future.
LML

[roma9009]

Were ya have live stock you always have dead stock l. If the birds are happy healthy in your aviarys then are sold and die how can you predict it.

[SamDavis]

There has been some confusion regarding the nature of this issue. Most of my weekend was spent on the phone retelling the whole sorry tale, so I decided to write it all down. The letter below has been sent to all representative bird groups in Victoria. This includes general aviculture, budgerigars, pigeons, canaries, etc.
I'll post the template for you to copy and send to MPs in a separate post after this one.

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[SamDavis]

Dear <member of parliament name>
RE: THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AMENDMENT (PUPPY FARMS AND PET SHOPS) BILL 2016
We wish to draw your attention and request your support to resolve an urgent issue regarding sections of the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Bill 2016 affecting the sale of birds and other animals. This Bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the legislative assembly during the October 25-27th 2016 sitting.
<Brief statement introducing your club or clubs and the events held>
The current Section 96 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 was unknown to bird groups until uncovered prior to the Mornington Peninsula Avicultural Society annual bird expo in 2015. Thousands of community bird club based events had unwittingly been occurring since 1994. Based on Hansard and recollections of MPs present in 1994, the aim of Section 96 was to shut down trade in animals at “car boot” style markets. We support this aim.
We request your support to redress the unintended effect of Section 96 on community bird (and other animal) club events. Unfortunately, consultation during the drafting of the current amendment Bill has been less than satisfactory. We recommend the following amendments. Option 1 is preferred, however option 2 is also acceptable.

Option 1. – Replaces (removes) Animal Sale Permits Completely.
Replace Section 93 with the following.
93 Offence to sell certain animals outside certain places
After section 96(aa) of the Principal Act insert—
"(ab) unless the sale is organised by an incorporated association whose purpose includes the welfare of the animals to be sold and the relevant council has been notified of date/time and location of the sale at least 14 days prior; or".
Delete Section 32 in its entirety
32 New Division 3B inserted in Part 4

Option 2. – Adds our amendment without removing Animal Sale Permits.
Replace Section 93 with the following.
93 Offence to sell certain animals outside certain places
After section 96(aa) of the Principal Act insert—
“(ab) unless the animal is sold at a place specified in an animal sale permit and under and in accordance with that permit; or”
"(ac) unless the sale is organised by an incorporated association whose purpose includes the welfare of the animals to be sold and the relevant council has been notified of date/time and location of the sale at least 14 days prior; or".

Explanatory Notes

1. The above amendment options are supported by approximately 195 bird clubs operating throughout Victoria. Each club runs events, such as general meetings, shows, exhibitions, sales and auctions where animals are routinely traded. For many clubs these events have occurred for well in excess of one hundred years.
2. Bird (and other animal) clubs are the primary animal welfare educators and regulators. Welfare of birds is a central purpose of all bird clubs and is a common topic at many events. Clubs have been self-regulating for over one hundred years with few, if any welfare incidents recorded.
3. The proposed animal sale permit system does not promote positive animal welfare outcomes. Its provisions are unworkable and will shut down trading at club regulated events, whilst encouraging alternative markets (such as internet trading) which are exceedingly difficult to regulate. We have major concerns that implementation of the proposed system will result in significant negative animal welfare outcomes.
4. The proposed animal sale permit system involves significant red tape and cost to councils and state government. Council staff do not possess the expertise to assess welfare of the broad range of diverse avian species in aviculture, so extensive training at enormous cost will be required. The application process is arduous for both applicants, councils and government, incurring additional cost. The proposed system is costly, unworkable and will prevent club controlled and organised sales.
5. Minister Pulford recently initiated a review of animal welfare via the document Improving the Welfare of Animals – Draft Action Plan 2016-2021. We applaud the strong intention to consult with stakeholders that is a central theme of this plan. Unfortunately, there has been no meaningful consultation with bird groups prior to the formulation of the proposed animal permit system and hence the proposed system shows a lack of understanding of the issues affecting animal welfare at club self-regulated events.

Aviculture for our membership is a passion. A thorough understanding of birds as individual beings with their own specific needs is the central theme. The knowledge and skills of Australian aviculturists is renowned world-wide. Our network of community based not-for-profit clubs have a proud unblemished history regarding animal welfare which we wish to continue.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter. Please do not hesitate to call if we can assist with further details.
Kind regards.
<your details>

[SamDavis]

We believe councils were not consulted either!
Today we emailed all 79 councils (mayor and CEO) with the following....
RE: THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AMENDMENT (PUPPY FARMS AND PET SHOPS) BILL 2016- COUNCIL IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY BIRD (AND OTHER ANIMAL) CLUB EVENTS
The Canary and Cage Bird Federation of Australia represents bird clubs nationally. This includes budgerigar, finch, pigeon, canary, poultry, etc. community clubs. For this issue, we represent approximately 195 community-based bird clubs operating throughout Victoria. These clubs organise thousands of community events annually, including meetings, exhibitions, sales, auctions, shows, etc. Birds are traded, sold, exchanged routinely at all these events and many have been in operation for well over 100 years with few, if any animal welfare issues.
We wish to draw your attention to an urgent issue regarding section 32 of “The Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Bill 2016” (the amending Bill) affecting the sale of birds and other animals via animal sale permits. This Bill is scheduled for second reading debate in the legislative assembly during the October 25-27th 2016 sitting so time is of the essence. Councils will be tasked with implementing the proposed animal sale permits specified in Section 32 of the amendment Bill. The red tape and cost to local councils will be significant with no identified benefits to animal welfare outcomes.
Minister Pulford recently initiated a review of animal welfare via the document Improving the Welfare of Animals – Draft Action Plan 2016-2021. We applaud the strong intention to consult with stakeholders that is a central theme of this plan. Unfortunately, there has been no meaningful consultation with bird groups prior to the formulation of the proposed animal permit system and hence the proposed system shows a lack of understanding of the issues affecting animal welfare at club self-regulated events. Our current information suggests a corresponding lack of consultation with local government.
Here is a “plain English” summary of the proposed Animal Sale Permit requirements and conditions (with thanks to Lloyd Marshall of Talking Birds).
1. The local council must prepare a report, with council staff able to check the venue and accommodation to be used for birds at the sale. That report must be prepared within 21 days of an application from a bird club being received.
2. If council approval is given an application can then be made to the Minister, who can approve or refuse that application.
3. Each application to the Minister must include a copy of an agreement from a vet who will check the premises and accommodation for birds to be sold, and who will be in attendance throughout the sale.
4. Each application to the Minister must include a guarantee to purchasers for each bird offered for sale.
5. Each application to the Minister must specify the species to be sold and the number of each species.
6. Each application to the Minister must include the full names and contact details of any person who will be selling birds at the sale.
7. Sale organisers must, within 28 days after the sale date, submit a report to the Minister which lists each species and the number of each species offered for sale at the sale, and the number of each species sold at the sale.
To comply with point 1 above, a detailed assessment of the proposed event must be undertaken by a suitably qualified council authorised officer. Section 32 of the amending Bill adds Section 58M, 58N, 58O and 58P which detail the required assessment process.
We are trying to understand how such a permit system could possibly work, given the potential thousands of such applications made annually and hence request the following information from Yarra Ranges Shire Council
1. Details of avian expertise and training of council authorised officers to make the required assessment.
2. Details of state government consultation with council during the preparation of the amendment Bill.
3. Any other matters of relevance.
We are requesting an amendment to the amendment Bill to remove animal sale permits for bird (and other animal) clubs. To be replaced with a simple notification to council of all proposed events. This allows council to fulfil its obligations under the POCTA Act and also allows council to promote these community events via existing community event marketing efforts. Our network of community based not-for-profit clubs have a proud unblemished history regarding animal welfare which we wish to continue. We have grave concerns that implementation of the proposed system will result in significant negative animal welfare outcomes.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter. Please do not hesitate to make contact if we can assist with further details on this issue, including details of our proposed amendments.
Sincerely,
Samuel Davis
Vice President – Canary and Caged Bird Federation of Australia Inc.
P: (02) 4632 7987
M: 0411 253 512
F: (02) 4632 8002
E: [email protected]