There are over 7000 registered cat owners in Knox, yet sadly only 143 (2%) joined the Ombudsman case, only 73 (1%) objected to the DAMP.
Many more Councils will follow Knox to implement this. Please share the links everybody:
Legislative Council: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/council/petitions/electronic-petitions/view-e-petitions/details/12/446
Legislative Assembly: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/assembly/petitions/e-petitions/view-sign-e-petitions/details/55/108
Kim Wells MP is sponsoring the Legislative Assembly Petition. Victorians, please sign. Please if you can, go a step further & share the link with fellow Victorians - on Facebooks, by sms, to email contacts, Twitter, social media accounts, print and place small posters in coffee shops, walls, businesses, talk to people and ask them to sign to gain a Judicial Inquiry. A downloadable poster PDF is on https://www.academia.edu/74853547/Victorian_poster or share screenshot or QR codes from https://www.facebook.com/savedandenong.foothills or make your own - spread everywhere.
This year Knox Council is borrowing $50million dollars which apparently could have 'liabilities of $78.565 million, that in 2022-3 go up to $96 million in money loaned. Comprehensive income statement, the deficit (debt) for this year is projected to be $30.54 million, with an underlying deficit of $54.217 million.' Pound fees and fine fees. Council expects 2022 fines revenue of over $4million, and to keep rising. (links below)
Silence supports Council. We need everyone to fight for pets’ lives, kindness, liveability and our community. Victorians, anyone who cares about pets. If everyone can share with their network, we show that We matter, that we can fight.
Council will charge rate-payers more for enforcement of 24-hrs. (stated in February 2022 Meeting)
Neighbours complaining about cats, will not have to provide a statement and have their identities hidden, unlike dog complaints. (stated June 2021 Agenda)
Around 85% of ‘nuisance ‘cats are not registered, they are homeless cats - there will be less homes and greater deaths.
All benefit is removed from cat-owner registrations with 24-hrs.
Community division, Inequality, Animal Abuse, Cat Cruelty, Cage enclosures ruining gardens, Trapping wildlife, and Devaluing properties.
Knox Council did not produce any scientific evidence for its claims, instead lifting opinion pieces from websites, and citing the RSPCA - a private org that makes money from killing cats.
3288 online responses followed call-outs on change.org Without any community consultation on 24-hrs, Council claims the July '21 response as ‘feedback’ and ‘support for a curfew’ when many support a night curfew, but not a lifetime lockdown.
Budget from page 716, Knox Loan borrowing $50 million p26 https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021-10-25%20-Minutes%20-%20Council%20.pdf
Borrowing $50million pages 3-6. https://www.knox.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021-11-03%20Ad%20Hoc%20Meeting%20of%20Council.pdf
Yarra Ranges neighbours:
2014: change.org petition rejected by Council- 2666 signatures (generally Councils do not accept petitions without addresses - read the Councillor Response at the top)
https://www.change.org/p/yarra-ranges-abolish-the-imposed-24-hour-cat-curfew
2016: Two years after passing the law, Yarra Ranges Council issuing many high fines https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/hundreds-fined-for-breaching-yarra-ranges-cat-curfew/news-story/c2bbca2d9fab490d1278aa6b494c6c1c
2017: Facebook page no longer updated https://www.facebook.com/RA24CC Of eight councillors who voted for 24-hr cat curfew in 2014, only two lost in 2016, three retired in 2020, three have been re-elected twice more in 2016 and 2020 and are still there in 2022, while cat-owners still suffer in Yarra Ranges.
Knox Council told the Victorian Ombudsman they checked their figures with Newfocus and Melbourne University, which they never did. MelbUni and Newfocus gave quotes for making professional ‘random-sample’ surveys, which never happened. Council’s online anonymous survey, not on 24-hrs, open worldwide over six months, with less than 0.7% (zero point 7 percent) response, was not a random-sample, and cannot be verified. Knox Council did not consult the community on 24-hours. Knox Council did not follow its Community Engagement Policy and its Health and Wellbeing Plan. The Victorian Ombudsman believed Knox Council’s untruths, without asking for evidence. The Victorian Ombudsman has not displayed accuracy, or any impartiality. We are preparing a report to request a review. We need to show in great numbers that this matters to Us.