Con artist collects fee

2nd July 2009

IT WAS a dog day afternoon for a North Ipswich woman after she was swindled by a fake Ipswich City Council officer.

The council said the con came at a time when residents and the council were trying to deal with the State Government's new Animal Management Act.

Council Health and Regulations chairman Andrew Antoniolli said the woman rang the council to say a man driving a green ute that appeared to have a council logo knocked on the door and said he was collecting dog registration fees.

“Unfortunately the lady gave him $50,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“Clearly we do not collect dog registration fees door to door. We have a whole raft of payment options but that isn't one of them.

“We're working with the police. If anyone has any concerns they should contact the council on 3810 6666.”

Ipswich crime prevention unit officer in charge Sergeant Nadine Webster issued these warnings for residents:

• Don't let people into the house; keep the screen door or security door locked.

• Ask for identification.

• If they have any doubts, call police straight away and give as many details as possible about the person and any vehicles involved including registration number.

Cr Antoniolli said council still hoped for changes to the new Animal Management Act that came into effect yesterday.

He said changes would make the act “more workable and create a safer environment for the community”.

“Council has forwarded submissions to the State Government in regard to the Act but a number of suggestions remain unresolved,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“I believe the Act is long overdue, but the details of it just need to be sorted out to make it workable for everyone concerned.

“I fully agree with some new matters such as the increase of the maximum penalty for a serious dog attack, now $30,000, and on-the-spot fines for keeping unregistered animals from $75 to $200.

“In some cases council's local laws are far better to handle these situations than the new Act and we want to retain the right to maintain these.”

He said council previously had the power to refuse someone's application to register a dog if they had breached the council's local laws in relation to pets or to revoke the registration in the same case.

He said offences would include things such as continually letting their dog roam. Cr Antoniolli said under the new Act, the council no longer had those powers.

He also said in the case of a dog attack, the council now only had the power to keep a dangerous dog until the owner asked for it back.

Previously the council could hold a dangerous dog until the risk was removed or rectified.