An Interview with David Tippett

David Tippett, an independent, standing for elections to the board of Dogs NSW became involved in purebred dogs in 2000 when he purchased his first American Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Although he only wanted a dog as a deterrent to would-be robbers, after 13 break ins, he became interested in other aspects of the purebred dog world though his membership to Dogs NSW, which have broadened his knowledge and help him identify the problem areas within the purebred dog world, indeed within NSW and Dogs NSW.


An Interview with Independent Candidate, David Tippet
17th July, 2007


§j: David tell me something about yourself and briefly why you are standing as an independent for the coming Dogs NSW board election?

David: Sally a Faction driven Board is no different to Party Politics. Whoever controls the seats controls the Board. Would I love to know that my ideas would be accepted and passed at meetings? Sure I would but there are a multitude of issues that need to be resolved independently by 15 people, not only 8 with a controlling interest. In my opinion that would spell disaster not only for members of another faction but also the independents trying to move the organisation forward.

§j: You have identified a number of problem areas. Could you begin by telling us more about Erskine Park and the Facilities. please?

David: Currently we pay rent, according to the lease, as if it were utilised at FULL MARKET VALUE. Look at all the vacant land we have. We are nowhere near utilising it to it's full extent and the Board and the Government need to realise that we need to utilise it better if we are to continue to survive. If elected I will then be privy to more information about the complex and how to implement ideas I have. An indoor stadium would be one of my goals.

§j: Falling membership is not new for the purebred dog world, it has been seen Australia wide and indeed world wide, with American Kennel Club (AKC) now looking at allowing cross bred dogs into the American Kennel Club like Australia has done some years ago. Do you see as a healthy way to go for a body which was specifically set up for purebred dogs?

David: Falling membership is inevitable in today's society. It is no different in other traditional hobbies. A number of years ago people even stopped going to the footy. Numbers were dropping drastically. It is a competitive market to compete in nowadays with kids content to sit at home on a computer while the inventors make millions we are relying on an ever decreasing support base to survive. The ARL turned that around and we CAN turn this around. I don't believe we need to allow cross breeds in but I would like us to be the body responsible for them. It isn't difficult to separate the three categories, conformation, performance dogs (be they pure or crossbred) and pet ownership. I think there needs to be a further push to responsible ownership and a valuable income stream if we initiate the idea to the Government that ALL dog owners undertake an exam and are licenced to own a dog. WE could quite easily achieve that.

§j: Please tells us more as to your reason/s.

David: Briefly just on that subject. Imagine we take our 10,000 odd members we currently have. We put the proposal to the Government that the problem with dangerous dogs etc is, in part with the wrong owners or ignorant owners owning them. We propose they MUST undertake a course and pass to be eligible to apply for a pet owners licence. Let's just say there are a million pet owners, then just like we pay a yearly membership, they renew their licence every year. You don't need to be Einstein to see the profit that can be made just by running the course. These courses can, of course be run through our regional affiliates as well and profit shared to ease their financial burden as well.

§j: Member benefits can be a hot topic for discussion. Do you have a comment about that?

David: The only benefits we currently have is the right to register our dogs/puppies and to show/compete. Even for those we pay extra, indeed we pay for everything. I don't want to pre-empt what benefits are achievable, but 4 years ago when I learnt of the massive discounts offered by airlines to anyone with a high volume of traffic in air travel, I suggested we set up an account and offer discounted air travel for our member's dogs. We really need to think outside the square . We also need to look at how we can get the many products members use at a discounted rate. We need to be the new NRMA where it pays to belong rather than 'belong first then pay more'.

§j: I think if I was to ask 100 people about the finances of their State Controlling Body and how it has been spent, I would get 100 different answers. David do you see any wasting of member finances by Dogs NSW?

David: I see recent wastage by 1 current Board Member and 1 ex Board member trying to get elected through taking legal action against DogsNSW and also new judges threatening taking legal action against DogsNSW because they failed exams. This has to stop and I believe that any unsuccessful attempt should see them required to repay all costs to DogsNSW or have their membership terminated ad infinitum. I don't believe on the balance that the Board has wasted money. Rather they lack the ideas to produce new income streams.

§j: In concluding the interview, David would you like to say anything else to Dogs NSW members?

David: I have a wide range of experience I believe I can put to good use on the Board. I am offering my services should the members so choose to elect me. Mind you I still have to convince a majority before any action can be taken but I do offer a REAL ALTERNATIVE in a totally independent Board member I also believe that sound financial management includes a solid asset base. Currently we have none other that the cash at hand. If we lost Erskine Park through resumption of land, we would lose all the buildings on it. Although I am running for a Metropolitan seat, I will vote on all regional matters as well and the abolition effects of the regional funding will deal a heavy blow. I believe we should be looking at buying and developing grounds in regional areas as part of our asset base rather than paying rent to outside parties.

§j: Thank you David for sharing your thoughts and giving Dogs NSW members an insight into you and your ideas. Wishing you a successful coming election.