Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld)

Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009

An Act to make provision to allow persons with a disability to be accompanied by guide, hearing and assistance dogs at certain places and for related purposes, and to repeal the Legacy Trust Fund Act 2001

Part 1 Preliminary

Division 1 Introduction

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3 Objects of Act (1) The objects of this Act are— (a) to assist people with a disability who rely on guide, hearing or assistance dogs to have independent access to the community; and (b) to ensure the quality and accountability of guide, hearing and assistance dog training services. (2) The objects are mainly achieved by— (a) protecting the right of people with a disability who rely on guide, hearing or assistance dogs to be accompanied by the person's guide, hearing or assistance dog in places of accommodation and particular public places and public passenger vehicles; and (b) protecting the right of trainers of guide, hearing and assistance dogs to be accompanied by the dogs in places of accommodation and particular public places and public passenger vehicles; and (c) providing a simple and consistent means of identifying properly trained guide, hearing and assistance dogs; and (d) providing for the approval of guide, hearing and assistance dog training services.

Division 2 Interpretation

4 Dictionary The dictionary in schedule 4 defines particular words used in this Act.

5 What is a disability (1) A disability is a person's condition that— (a) is attributable to— (i) an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment; or Examples— a vision or hearing impairment (ii) the presence in the person's body of organisms causing illness or disease; and (b) results in— (i) a reduction of the person's capacity for communication, social interaction, learning, mobility or self care or management; and (ii) the person needing support. (2) The disability may be, but need not be, of a chronic episodic nature.