The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (17:22): I thank those members who have made a contribution: the Hon. Emily Bourke, the Hon. Connie Bonaros and the Hon. Nicola Centofanti. I do not think any of us would disagree in terms of compassion and care, particularly for wombats but for all animals in this state. As the Hon. Nicola Centofanti notes, it is already illegal to bury a wombat alive, yet hundreds have been without recourse and without clarity.
This bill was at the behest of the Wombat Awareness Organisation, with their frustrations over many, many incidents continuing to happen in this state, despite it being the letter of the law that to bury a wombat alive is illegal. I welcome the government's contribution and certainly will be supporting their amendments. I think their amendments find a compromise way forward, as the Hon. Connie Bonaros noted.
This is an issue of some consternation, and I note that the Law Society advice on this bill came not only from the Animal Law Committee but also the Country Practitioners' Committee, who could not agree with each other, which is no surprise. It is also no surprise that in this chamber we will not all be agreeing on the details of this particular bill or indeed what will be, yes, an added layer of bureaucracy, but I would call it an added layer of education as well and an ability to ease the enforcement. Where the law clearly has been broken, it will be made clearer by what we do today. With that, I commend the bill.