Premier’s push for stronger dog laws

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants councils to get stronger powers to crack down on dangerous dogs.

A long standing task force within the government has been reviewing Queensland’s dangerous dog laws since 2021.

She revealed on Thursday that she had asked Agriculture Minister Mark Furner to personally reconvene the taskforce, with action to be taken by the month’s end.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was disturbed by the growing frequency of the attacks and declared stronger measures were needed.

“We are now seeing more and more of these dog attacks,” she said. “I understand the community concern.”

“I think there needs to be stronger consequences.”

The Gold Coast City Council has confirmed it had received several complaints about dogs at the Yatala property where a young girl was savagely mauled on Wednesday night.

The three-year-old remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital at deadline, with wounds to her head and neck from the attack.

Neighbours and nearby residents told media the dogs were the subject of complaints to council, claims confirmed by a council spokesperson who said animal management officers had visited the property on multiple occasions.

Some reportedly complained about the animals just weeks before the attack and others said the dogs on the property were notoriously aggressive. Multiple dogs were seized from the property by Gold Coast City Council animal management officers on Wednesday night.

In a statement, a council spokesperson said council officers “patrolled the area regularly with a view to ensuring compliance with local laws.”

They said it was inappropriate to make more comment as it was under investigation by the council and the police.

On Thursday morning family friend Kurt Poole turned up at the property and said the toddler’s grandmother was “beside herself”.