Kangaroo Island bushfire survivor banished from Parliament House
A Kangaroo Island bushfire survivor has been turned away from Parliament House on Wednesday. He is not allowed back. But he is a good boy.
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A Kangaroo Island bushfire survivor has been banned from Parliament House amid concerns he may poo on the floor or frighten MPs.
Regular parliament visitor Dusty – an Australian Kelpie – was turned away from the North Tce building on Wednesday morning after a new rule came into effect just minutes earlier banning all animals, except assistance dogs, from the premises.
The Clerks of both the Upper and Lower Houses sent a joint email to MPs and parliamentary staff on Wednesday morning, outlining the rule.
“On the advice of the President of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the House of Assembly, please note that animals are not permitted to be brought into Parliament House,” it read.
“It is not appropriate for … animals (other than assistance animals) to be brought on to the premises for a number of reasons, including potential allergies of other building occupants, sufferers of asthma, fear of particular animals, noise concerns and the potential mess or damage that could be caused to the building and furnishings.”
The move coincided with Dogs in Politics Day, which commemorates the day then-US President Richard Nixon did a live television broadcast alongside his dog Checkers.
Dusty’s owner, and Mawson MP, Leon Bignell said his 10-month-old puppy had visited Parliament House about half a dozen times since he was born.
Mr Bignell said Dusty would stay for about an hour each time and would snooze under his desk or hang out in the courtyard.
“He’ll be devastated – he gets so excited when he’s around people,” he said.
“He has a beautiful temperament, and there’s already some people around Parliament House that have said they’re sad they won’t see him anymore.”
Mr Bignell, who said no one had complained to him about Dusty, said the ban was “not the biggest thing in the world” but “I just think in this day and age I think we can be a bit flexible”.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Mr Bignell posted a picture of himself and Dusty to mark Dogs in Politics Day.
“I’d like to thank Dusty the Kangaroo Island kelpie for bringing so much love and laughter into our home and for bringing joy to so many people on his social media accounts as well as in person as he travels with me around the electorate and into parliament,” he wrote.
Dusty was one of seven five-week-old pups who survived the Kangaroo Island bushfires that destroyed the home of their owner Shane Leahy.