Territory council calls for uniform legislation to address animal management issues

Dangerous dog laws in the Territory have been called into question, with one council calling for a uniform approach. Read the details.

There were 223 animal attacks in the City of Darwin in the year to date.

The recent trial of dangerous dog owner April Burbur for criminal negligence has drawn attention to Northern Territory councils’ dangerous dog laws, with one calling for “uniform legislation”.

Ms Burbur’s dog, Wilfred, viciously attacked Rhonda Matthews on April 9 2022 in Palmerston, resulting in Ms Matthews losing both her arms.

In court the jury heard Ms Burbur’s dog had a history of “savagely attacking people” in Darwin, with two recorded in 2021.

April Burbur’s dog viscously attacked a house guest on April 9, 2022 in Palmerston. Picture: Zizi Averill

Currently in the NT, a patchwork of local council by-laws regulate dogs, including the declaration of “dangerous dogs” and the “destruction” (euthanasia) of dogs.

A spokesperson for the City of Darwin said there were currently 63 declared dangerous dogs in the municipality, and had investigated 223 reports of animal attacks since November 28, 2023.

The spokesperson said the council’s animal management by-laws had been updated since Ms Matthews’ attack, making it easier for the council to “prevent attacks when a dog is declared dangerous”.

This declaration attaches “additional mandatory conditions on the owner,” the spokesperson said.

There are 63 declared dangerous dogs in the City of Darwin. Picture: Che Chorley

In Palmerston – where the attack on Ms Matthews occurred – there are no declared dangerous dogs.

A spokesperson for the City of Palmerston said this is because the “declaration of a dangerous dog did not exist prior to July 1, 2024”.

Palmerston only recently updated its animal management by-laws for the first time in 25 years to include dangerous dogs, the spokesperson said.

These updates “reflect the expectations of our community in relation to safety and wellbeing” they said.

Discrepancies such as this – between two councils that share borders – has led a City of Darwin spokesperson to suggest “uniform legislation” for animal management issues.

“Uniform legislation would enable local governments to undertake education, compliance and enforcement, with the ability to apply informed by-laws and policy to support the regulation of specific local animal management issues,” the spokesperson said.

Local Government Minister Steve Edgington said a working group was established in 2023 to “work through improvements to animal management in the NT”.

The working group comprises of most NT councils and a number of government departments.

Mr Edgington suggested councils “raise issues with the working group”.

Mr Edgington still considers animal management to be the responsibility of councils.

“We encourage councils to ensure there are appropriate by-laws in place and enforced by councils for their communities,” Mr Edgington said.

Originally published as Territory council calls for uniform legislation to address animal management issues