1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Cats out and about, and we know some council areas 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: of night curfews to stop cats roaming. Have you seen 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: studies of where they put a GPS tracker on a 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: cat collar and see where it goes, and it sort 5 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: of zigzags all over the neighborhood. Always home is base. 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: It knows where home is, but it can go, you know, 7 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: kill a meter, a couple of k's away and do 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: its thing. Be a cat eventually comes home and from 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: all different directions north, south, east, west, you name it. 10 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: They just zigzaggle over the place and they obviously enjoy 11 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: being out in about, but they know where home is. Well. 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Up in the Hills there they do have a curfew 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: at nights and the mayor, David Leech, is calling on 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: the state government to ban cats roaming everywhere around the 15 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: suburbs and also considering a twenty four hour curfew on 16 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: cats up in the hills. David Leech, good. 17 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: Morning, good morning. How are you all right? 18 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Thank you? So you're targeting cat owners and cats. It's 19 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: worked up there in the Hills obviously that the nighttime curfew. 20 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's working pretty well actually. 21 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: So you'd like the state government to follow. 22 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 2: What I think would be a great idea. Instead of 23 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 2: sixty eight councils having sixty eight sets of bylaws, it'd 24 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: be a lot easier for the state government to do it. 25 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: But that's not my call. I'm not a state elected 26 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: member of parliament. I'm just the mayor of Mount Parker. 27 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: The feedback from your local residents, they're all okay with 28 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: this now, and I suppose it's become life as normal 29 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: under the new by laws. 30 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: We haven't had a lot of issues with it. We 31 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 2: did go out and survey members of the public and 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: sixty percent of people are in favor of twenty four 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: to seven cat confinement. 34 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: So okay, the majority. Now, I don't think this is right. 35 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: But we were talking the other day about with people 36 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: on air about the number of mice and rats up 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: in the Adelaide Hills, and a few people called in saying, well, 38 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: it's the curf that's affecting that. Now. I doubt it is, 39 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: because I don't know how many miceore or rats a 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: cat would be capable of catching overnight, but it wouldn't 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: be alive, I don't think. But anyway, maybe maybe it is. 42 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: But that's also an issue up in the hills. Would 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: you would you say it's the curfew that's resulted in 44 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 1: more rodents been around? 45 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 2: No, No, not at all, Matthew. Rodents have been a 46 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 2: pest for many thousands of years in society, and places 47 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 2: where there are no cats they have rodent problems, and 48 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: places where there are cats that roam free have had 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 2: rodent problems. If cats with a solution, we wouldn't have 50 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: had problems in the past two hundred years in Australia 51 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: with rodents. 52 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: Have you seen any uptick in native species not being 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: killed off by cats? As you know you've done any 54 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: sort of work the Council Offices. 55 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 2: Absolutely. Of my breakfast every morning, and look out over 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: my garden. I've got a couple of families, a little wrens, 57 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: honey eaters, those sort of birds. After Tibby got bidden 58 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: by a snake a couple of years ago. The difference 59 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: is astounding between having a cat living on our little 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: property and not having a cat stoning that of wildlife 61 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: brews a great sigh of relief when cats are excluded. 62 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: So twenty four hour curfew that's under consideration up there now. 63 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 2: It's going to be we're going to get to consultation 64 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: with the public on the twenty sixth of June for 65 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: three weeks, and then the August council meeting will consider 66 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 2: whether we're going to go to twenty four to seven 67 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: cat confinement. 68 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: Okay, and that means what just within the house? Is 69 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: it allowed out in the yard at all? 70 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: It's lawed out in the yard. There are people on 71 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 2: farms who have said, for example, that they don't like 72 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: the idea because their cat can't go to the barn 73 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 2: and catch whatever rats or mice or snakes or whatever 74 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: it wants to do. The laws plan to be confinement 75 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: to the property, not confined inside an enclosure inside the house. 76 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: But for a lot of people who live in small 77 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 2: units and people who aren't able to keep the cats 78 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: on their own property, it will mean you're going to 79 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: need a cat run. 80 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, so exactly, so what does that entail? I mean? 81 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: I was going to say, it's going to be hard 82 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: to ensure a cat let out into the yard remains 83 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 1: in the property unless you've got high fences and those 84 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: little I don't know what they're called, but little rollers 85 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: I suppose on top of a fence to stop it 86 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: getting over. 87 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, so they don't stop cats getting out. Altogether, they're 88 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 2: a great help. But one of the great things that 89 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: we're planning to go to the public for consultation is 90 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: that we're going to introduce the twenty four to seven 91 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: confinement to cats that are born after the first of 92 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: January next year. So that means, if you've got a 93 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: five year old cat that's used to walking around your 94 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 2: garden during the day, that's fine, he can still keep 95 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 2: doing that. But after the cat's born after the first 96 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: of January next year, there'll be six months sort of 97 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: grace period. But after that, any of those cats born 98 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: after that date need to be confined twenty four seven. 99 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: So if you find a cat, well, you've got to 100 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: ask it for his birth certificate. How's that going to work? 101 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I've heard it a few times lately. 102 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:28,479 Speaker 2: I see it's not so much for now. In fifteen 103 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: years time, there's not going to be very many cats 104 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 2: that are over sixteen that are presenting a problem to 105 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: their neighbors. This is grandfather clause works very well, it's 106 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: very fair, it's a great compromise. We also got to 107 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: remember that there are already many many people who care 108 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: for the cats, who care for the native wildlife who 109 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 2: are doing this anyway twenty four seven. 110 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: That's absolutely correct, there are no doubt about that. Okay, 111 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: so wide support up in the hills, as you say, 112 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: and I imagine this will also be similarly welcomed. 113 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: Oh look, I'm sure it will be. That's why we 114 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 2: have consultations so that people can have their say. But 115 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 2: there is no doubt that cats since have been introduced 116 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 2: to Australia have had a terrible effect on native animals 117 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: and native birds. And there are many people who talk 118 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: to me who say they've got a cat or a 119 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 2: possum that's been sorry a bird or a possum that's 120 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 2: been shredded by a cat, and they're very upset. And 121 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 2: it's also a lot better for the cats. They're not 122 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 2: getting outside and getting run over or getting into fights 123 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 2: with dogs or other cats. It's a sensible thing all round. 124 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 2: I'm quite surprised hasn't come in years ago. 125 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: How big a problem the feral cats up in the hills, David. 126 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: There's a federal cat problem all over Australia, from Tasmania 127 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 2: to far North Northern Territory. The feral cats are probably 128 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 2: the biggest in borrow mental damage after rabbits in Australia. 129 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 2: They're a dreadful creature. The feral cats are a killing 130 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: machine and these buyers and wars are going to have 131 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: no effect on feral cats except that may reduce the 132 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: population of domesticated cats that escape off and become feral. 133 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: Yeah all right, So at the moment calling on the 134 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: state government to get have you spoken to Dan Creagan 135 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: now Cabinet minister, local MP about it? 136 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: Well, look, if you, I just want to make it 137 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 2: clear I'm not calling on the state government to do anything. 138 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: What I'm saying is that the state government is something 139 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: that they could consider. And yes, I talk to our knew, 140 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: much loved cabinet minister if here, Dan Creagan quite a 141 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 2: lot and I know that he's a responsible pet owner 142 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: and a great local MP. Would he would be unlikely 143 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: to disagree with me that cats need to be confined, 144 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 2: but he can speak for himself. 145 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, all right, appreciate your time, David, Thank you. 146 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: Good on. 147 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: David Leach, Mayor of Mount Barker on cats. So they're 148 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: looking at a twenty four to seven cat by law 149 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: that confines the cat to the property up in the 150 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: Mount Barker council area and suggesting well it would be 151 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: easier than sixty eight sets of by laws, which it would. 152 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: I'm saying, well, why do we have sixty eight different councils. Well, 153 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: there's your answer right there. But get the state government 154 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: to do this across the state. It probably does make sense.