Hi everyone there's been some developments. Key points here, more below:

- 24hr curfew is still going ahead but delayed start til April.

- lawyers say applying the law to new cats only is prone to challenge and not viable.

- the council doesn't want to pay to do a proper survey!

- ombudsman plans underway. Keep correspondences from council

- join our Facebook group Knox AdvoCats

- don't give up!

Knox Council Meeting 23rd August extended the 24-hr cat curfew start date to the 10th of April, as they did not inform cat owners, or gazette it properly, although they are pretending it is to 'educate' us.  Meetings display Councillors with no knowledge of cats, likening to rabbits and dogs.

Maddocks Lawyers informs of legal liability in running a dual curfew for existing cats.  Council says owners who might have outlaid costs to build cat enclosures could legally claim compensation if the law is changed to night-time curfew. (This implies that costs of enclosures, property devaluation, renters rights to keep their cats, mental health impact etc. could also be claimed with the 24-hour-curfew.)  Council wanted a random phone survey to ratify their decision, but Councillors said that spending less than $10 a cat-owner is too much, even though cat-owners pay for all the dog-parks.  The last dog & cat survey got 3258 responses.

Councillors breached their Code of Conduct making this 24-hour-law https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-07/councillor-code-of-conduct.pdf 

The only two Motions made on 28.6.2021 were strict-hour Orders of 7-7 or 24-hours, not the trialled dusk-to-dawn.  7-7 is legally different from the dusk-to-dawn pilot.  No statistics have ever been given for the efficacy of the 12-month pilot.

In three weeks, we can submit Cat Curfew Complaint to the Ombudsman, and residents will be able to join a group case.  A large group is needed to be effective. If you have submitted a written complaint to Council, then after 28 days you can also submit it to the Ombudsman.  Please keep all your responses from Council - this might be needed if they force us further for justice.

Connect with cat-lovers on Knox AdvoCats.  We fight for our fur families so that children will grow up with cats, for equality, and a healthy community  https://www.facebook.com/Fighting4FelineFreedoms/

As always I'm here if you need - andysdixon@hotmail.com

Thanks