Update 18 February 2026. Hello ladies and gentlemen.
Me and my support worker was really on the ground today nearly out for two hours going around to lots of businesses within Traralgon heavily promoting my poster for the petition Better Laws to protect Seeing eye dogs, Guide dogs and Handler Autonomy. Australia wide.
The petition flyers were put up at the following locations:
Government and Community Offices
* Darren Chester’s Office (Federal Member for Gippsland)
* Melina Bath’s Office (State Member for Eastern Victoria)
* Traralgon Police Station
* Post Office
* GDAI (Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc)
* AMP Employment Services
* Image Direct
Cafes and Food Outlets
* Am pm Coffee Shop
* Imis Cafe
* Mff+ RA Cafe
* Lolly Kingdom
* Little Prince Eating House and Bar
* Traralgon Bakery (Franklin Street)
* Banjos
* The Source Bulk Foods
Retail and Specialty Shops
* Aussie Disposals
* Unique Fades Barber Shop
* C2A Op Shop
* Life Line Op Shop
* Finland Weymouth
* Tiffany's Florist
* Miss Millys
* I Love This Shop
* Seven Seas Tattooing
Medical and Other Locations
* Valley Gentle Dental
* Acaid
* Taxi Rank corner of (Seymour and Franklin Street)
I also received this official response from the CEO of Vision Australia today:
"Dear Phillip,
Thank you for your further email.
I am writing to let you know that I intend to sign your petition on behalf of Vision Australia. Chris Edwards, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Advocacy will do the same. As the safety of our Seeing Eye Dogs and handlers is so important to Vision Australia, we also intend to separately advocate for legislative change in Victoria to make it a specific offence for a person to be in charge of a dog that attacks an assistance dog, whether or not the assistance dog or their handler are injured. There is a similar offence in the United Kingdom which could be used as a reference. We would propose that such an offence attract higher penalties, and would use case examples such as yours to highlight the need for change to be made. We also intend to include this issue as an election priority for the State election later this year.
Thank you again for the time you are dedicating to this important issue.
Kind regards,
David."