Discussion paper survey

Do you find the existing laws concerning access rights for people with a disability who rely on dogs for assistance in public places satisfactory? If not, what are your concerns?

Have you had any negative experiences when going into public places accompanied by an assistance dog, guide or hearing dog? If so what problems did you encounter?

Do you think that it is appropriate to confer power upon the chief executive to approve assistance dog trainers?

Are the proposed criteria that a dog trainer must meet appropriate to ensure that only suitable dog trainers gain the approved status as assistance dog trainers?

Do you think the proposed method of approving these dog trainers will ensure that the dogs trained as assistance dogs will have skills of an appropriate standard to safely accompany a person with a disability into public places and on public transport?

If not, do you have any suggestions as to how this could be best achieved?

Do you agree that an assistance dog trainer's 'approved status' should be reviewed every three years?

Do you agree that there should be a right of review from a decision made to refuse to grant a trainer 'approved status' or to discontinue a trainer's approved status?

Do you agree that the identification card issued for assistance dogs should expire after two years and that there should be a requirement that the assistance dog undertake another public access test at this time?

Do you believe that a decision of the chief executive to strike a dog off the assistance dog register and require the return of the identification card should be subject to external review?

If legislation were introduced allowing assistance dogs access to public places, do you think that assistance dogs should be required to wear a coat and collar that distinguishes them from a guide or hearing dog?

Noting the current exclusions for guide dogs under the Guide Dogs Act, are these exclusions still appropriate? Are there any other places, that for reasons of health and hygiene, assistance and guide dogs should not be allowed to go?

What other non-legislative measures do you consider the Queensland Government could adopt to ensure ongoing improvement in the standards of training of assistance dogs?

Do you think that rights of access for assistance dogs should be included in the same Act as that which confers rights of access on guide dogs and hearing dogs or should the Guide Dogs Act remain a separate piece of legislation?

Your views are important to us. Please provide your details so that we can contact you about your feedback if necessary.

About your privacy

All feedback will be analysed to develop a report to government. Within Disability Services Queensland access to this information is strictly limited to those officers who are involved in the review of assistance dogs and guide dogs laws. Your information will be stored in line with government standards, and will not be used for any other purpose.

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