AUSTRALIA
Bunny provided the information.
New South Wales (NSW) may pass new Game Bill
The NSW Government has introduced a Bill to allow the use of any firearm,
bow, animal or other hunting device to capture, kill or harm animals
designated as 'game' or 'pest' animals. Furthermore, the Game Council will
be managed by a majority of hunters.
Please write to the Premier of NSW and the Agriculture Minister to oppose
the introduction of this unethical and biased Bill. Further details can be
found within the copy of our sample letter below.
The Hon. Richard Amery
Minister for Agriculture NSW
The Hon. Robert Carr
Premier of NSW
***
Please use this letter as a sample. Use details to create your own letter.
Dear Minister/Premier Carr,
I am very disappointed that you have introduced a Bill (Game Bill 2001) that
will not only allow the infliction of suffering on wild-living animals
(classified as game, animals or pest animals), but which is likely to
increase the number of animals subjected to suffering at the hands of both
recreational hunters and misguided farmers. I urge you to withdraw the Bill
immediately.
This Bill is unethical and biased in its nature in a number of ways:
1) Hunt is defined as to use any firearm, bow, animal or other hunting
device to capture kill or harm the animals, but does not include laying or
using poison for that purpose (page 2).
This is just totally unacceptable. Licensed hunters under the Bill will be
able to inflict terrible suffering. An animal struck by an arrow, is likely
to suffer great injury, but may run for miles and take days to die of those
injuries. And yet again we have the terrible reality of legally permitting
dogs to be used against other animals. While the dogs may themselves be
injured (e.g. as is almost inevitable in a fight with a wild pig), any of
the animals pursued by dogs will be mauled before a hunter could catch up
and perhaps then kill the animal. Stray pursuit dogs that are not retrieved
will also add to the wild dog population.
2) Game Council membership (page 6): the Bill dictates that 7 of the 14
members of the Game Council must be nominees of hunting organisations; that
the Chairperson must be one of those nominees; that the Chairperson has both
a deliberative vote if an equity of votes and then a second or casting vote
on the Council; and that a quorum is just 8 members present (pgs 35 & 36 &
40).
The proposed membership and operating procedures of the Game Council ensures
that the hunting organisations are in total charge of the Council. Their
interests in a virtual open season on game and designated pest animals will
take precedence over both the suffering of sentient target animals and over
even any possible long-term reduction in damage to the environment or
agricultural interests.
It is interesting that those who drafted the Bill found it necessary to also
specifically exempt this clear bias under the Disclosure of pecuniary
interests (page 39) where being a member of a hunting club or organisation
is stated as not qualifying as a pecuniary interest of Game Council members
for the purposes of the Bill.
It is unethical and totally unacceptable to allow the hunting organisations
to manage a process which will cause great suffering to an even larger num
ber of animals, and it will be purely for their own amusement and
recreation.
3) The Bill indicates that the Game Council is to issue a Code of Practice
(page 19) and may make it a condition of license.
Again, notwithstanding my total opposition to the Game Bill, it seems
amazing that the Game Council, with no animal welfare representation and
total domination by the hunting organisations, is to be the arbiter of a
code of practice for the hunters own behaviour towards the game and pest
animals.
There are currently two reviews taking place in NSW - the Inquiry into Feral
Animals by the Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No.5;
and the Inquiry into Vertebrate Pest Management in National Parks in NSW
being conducted by Assoc. Prof. Tony English at the request of your
colleague Bob Debus. Both reviews were seen as necessary after the brutal
killing of goats on Lord Howe Island and wild horses in the Guy Fawkes
National Park, the later of which is still the subject of cruelty charges
brought by the RSPCA. Neither review has been completed, and it seems
premature to propose the Game Bill at this time.
This Game Bill makes a mockery of the NSW Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Act and to the established principles of humane and effective management of
mislocated and unwanted introduced animals. The hunting organisations seem
to be trying desperately to hang on to practices that are outdated and
unacceptable to a caring and humane society. It is regrettable that such a
Bill could even be drafted, but I urge you to now simply withdraw it before
the NSW Parliament moves to debate the issue . The Game Bill is based on
flawed and outdated principles and would cause the unnecessary and brutal
suffering of many millions of hapless animals in your State.
Yours sincerely,
Name/Country/Email
***********
You can also sign a petition against new Game Bill at:
http://www.iinet.net.au/~rabbit/gamebill.htm
--------------------
david camilleri
http://www.MaltaTouristAction.org
Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats .... your contribution
DOES make a difference
http://www.proactnow.org
Discuss at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proactteam/
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