Palaszczuk Government’s 16-month delay on dangerous dog laws slammed as ‘ticking time bomb’

In the wake of a series of horrific attacks, Queensland mayors have slammed the Palaszczuk Government for taking too long on their crucial review of dangerous dog laws.

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Queensland mayors have blasted the Palaszczuk government for taking too long to review dangerous dog laws – saying the current rules were outdated and need to be swiftly overhauled.

In response to a spate of horrific attacks, Annastacia Palaszczuk will urgently reconvene a task force to crackdown on menacing dogs.

The Premier announced on Wednesday she had tasked Agriculture Minister Mark Furner to chair the law reform review next week, flagging tougher consequences for dog owners and stronger powers for councils.

Since the long-running review began in late December 2021, the Minister has chaired the task force only once – its first meeting in August.

The task force has gathered once more and the review has involved eight other working group meetings.

But mayors across South East Queensland criticised the state government for the delay, with Moreton Bay leader Peter Flannery saying the families of three children mauled this week “will be living with the emotional and physical scars of those attacks for the rest of their lives”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Agriculture Minister Mark Furner will chair the law reform review next week. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

It is understood the review was scheduled to be completed in the coming months but the Premier said she was disturbed by the growing frequency of the attacks and declared stronger measures were urgently needed.

“We are now seeing more and more of these dog attacks,” the Premier said. “I think there needs to be stronger consequences.

“If you’re the owner of a dog, you have a duty of care and responsibility to … make sure that dog does not cause any injury or detriment to anyone else.

“That is an owner’s responsibility. I just think we need to step up responsibility here.”

A spokesman for Mr Furner said the government was committed to responsible dog ownership, which is why the Minister initially established the task force.

He also cited the introduction of new collar standards to identify dangerous dogs and stronger breeding laws.

Laquarna Chapman Palmer, 6, was attacked in Woodridge this week.

Mr Flannery said he was pleased the issue was now being treated with urgency but “it’s devastating to think it’s taken these kinds of horrific attacks to put this important issue back on the agenda”.

He said councils needed greater powers to investigate and manage serious dog attacks with any canines involved in incidents seized or surrendered immediately.

“We need to be black and white about this – we’ve been warning the government about this issue for years and to see three kids attacked in three separate incidents in just one week is horrific,” Mr Flannery said.

“The fact is that in really bad cases dangerous dogs are like a ticking time bomb, they definitely don’t belong in suburban environments.

“So I hope the state government will take swift and decisive action against dangerous dogs in the interests of public safety.”

A dog is removed from the scene of a serious mauling on the Gold Coast this week. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Redland Mayor Karen Williams said her local government had lobbied the government alongside Moreton Bay since 2019, insisting the current act was limited and inefficient to issue destruction of dog orders in the wake of attacks.

“In recognition of the significant community safety risks, council seeks a strengthening of the conditions around keeping a regulated dog, the establishment of offence categories for dog attacks, ensuring victims are supported, and providing clarity on enclosure guidelines,” she said.

“The recent dog attacks on people, including very young children, highlights the urgent need for this review and quick implementation of legislative change to ensure the safety of everyone in our community.”

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said her council had also “actively advocated” for reform for an extended period time.

“The Queensland regulatory framework has not kept pace with the appropriate regulation of dangerous and menacing dogs,” she said.

“Other states and territories have recognised the need to modernise their legislation as it relates to dangerous and aggressive dogs so it is disappointing that we are still lagging behind.”

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Alison Smith said the peak body for councils looked forward to meeting with the Minister in the next week as they progress law changes “as swiftly as possible”.

“No one wants to see another dog attack – there is not a moment to lose to achieve effective reforms,” she said.

“The LGAQ and our member councils have been working with the state government to secure changes to the current laws because it is critical councils have the powers they need to ensure they can protect their local communities to the best of their ability.”