LGEMA Policies

THIRD PARTY MERITS REVIEW RIGHTS

LGEMA supports third party merits review rights 

Draft Notice of Motion can be found here: Third Party Merits Appeal Rights Notice of Motion

CAT CONTAINMENT LAWS

Information for councillors can be found here: Cat Containment Laws Preamble  LGEMA’s policy position can be found here

While it is the LGEMA view that domestic cat containment can be done lawfully under current laws, it is important that the CAT Act be better expressed to clearly authorise domestic cat containment local laws. Many Councils fighting for this change to save local wildlife need the support of each and every WA local government.

EMs can use LGEMA Cat Containment Position as the basis for the arguments they need for a notice of motion of a submission to the DLGSC to amend the Cat Act.

LGEMA Position Paper is attached. It contains all the arguments you need.

Statutory review of WA Cat Act 2011 open > closing date 5pm, Monday, 31 August 2026.

DLGIRS seeking feedback from public, LGs, animal welfare organisations about:

  • Registration, Microchipping, Identification: Requirements for cats over six months old, including the use of collars and tags.
  • Sterilisation: Requirement for cats to be sterilised by six months of age.
  • Breeding: Regulations surrounding approved cat breeders.
  • Cat Containment: Potential legislative amendments to allow local governments to create specific cat containment laws.
  • Limits on Numbers: Consideration of rules regarding the number of cats allowed per household.
  • Enforcement: Compliance and administrative procedures

16 February 2025 Cat Containment and Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation Annual Report

Will you vote for an MP candidate in state election who does not support domestic cat containment?

As at November 2024 JSCDL maintains its curious, arguably untenable, arguably lawfully wrong, position that Councils do not have power to make cat containment local laws, so they can stop cat containment local laws being operative.

Domestic cats contribute to feral cat population and prey on local native fauna. Cats are one of worst predators. Cats threaten survival of about 120 Australian nationally listed threatened species.

LGEMA policy on domestic cat containment here https://lgema.org.au/new-policy-suggestions-2/

For your voting consideration at upcoming state election, these are the FORMER MP members of JSCDL committee who are against cat containment local laws:

  • Mr Geoff Baker MLA (Chair)
  • Hon Lorna Harper MLC (Deputy Chair)
  • Mr Stuart Aubrey MLA
  • Hon Steve Martin MLC
  • Martin Pritchard MLC
  • Mr Paul Lilburne MLA
  • Ms Magenta Marshall MLA
  • Hon Shelley Payne MLC (from 11 June 2024)
  • Hon Stephen Pratt MLC (until 27 May 2024)

These are CURRENT committee members:

  • Ms Emily Hamilton MLA
  • Deputy Chair: Hon. Robin Chapple MLC
  • Members: Mr Kyran O’Donnell MLA
  • Mrs Robyn Clarke MLA
  • Dr David Honey MLA
  • Hon. Matthew Swinbourn MLC
  • Hon. Martin Pritchard MLC
  • Mr Robin Scott MLC

URBAN TREE CANOPY LAW AND POLICY REFORM 

LGEMA’s policy position can be found here