Dear Birding-ausers,
The AVA is joining the chorus of those condemning Minister Tehan's decision
to allow poisoning of cockatoos. Media Release as follows.
Patricia Macwhirter BVSc (Hons), MA, FACVSc (Bird Medicine)
Highbury Veterinary Clinic, 128 Highbury Road, BURWOOD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Ph: (03) 9808 9011 Fax: (03) 9888 7134
>MEDIA RELEASE
>
>Australian Veterinary Association (AVA)
>PO Box 371 Artarmon NSW 2064 Australia
>(02) 9411 2733(p), (02) 9411 5089 (f), (email).
>____________________________________________________________________________
>
>Minister's poisons decision threatens wildlife, humans and agriculture
>
>
>The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) today condemned the
>Victorian Government's decision to allow farmers access to a wide range
>of dangerous chemicals to poison cockatoos.
>
>It said the decision was a direct threat to many species of non-target
>birds and other wildlife. It also posed a threat to human health - and
>to Australia's reputation as a "clean and green" exporter of
>agricultural products.
>
>A spokeswoman for the AVA, Dr Pat Macwhirter, said the decision by the
>Victorian Minister for Conservation and Land Management, Mrs Marie
>Tehan, was in direct contradiction to the recommendations of a
>Parliamentary Inquiry in 1995.
>
>Dr Macwhirter said the Minister had indicated that permits would be
>issued to allow individuals to apply to use any of the chemicals listed
>under the Agricultural and Vet Chemicals Act for the destruction of
>cockatoos.
>
>"According to available information, applicants will not be required to
>demonstrate economic damage caused by birds - nor to show they have
>tried alternative methods of bird control," she said.
>
>"The permits will impose limits only on the location and duration of the
>intended chemical use. There are, apparently, no controls whatever on
>the particular poisons to be used or how they are to be used.
>
>"We acknowledge that Galahs, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Long-billed
>Corellas can sometimes cause economic damage for farmers, but the
>Minister's actions in this matter warrant strong condemnation.
>
>"The wide range of poisons she is making available will kill non-target
>wildlife, including mammals and birds of prey - and their various modes
>of killing are neither rapid, nor humane".
>
>Dr Macwhirter said no effective research had been undertaken on any of
>the poisons to be made available, in terms of their capacity to deal
>with economic damage caused by cockatoos.
>
>The decision to allow untrained individuals wide scope for using the
>poisons not only threatened other wildlife but posed a risk to humans
>who could contract diseases, such as psittacosis*, through handling dead
>or dying birds.
>
>She said:"Mrs Tehan's decision threatens the hard-won international
>reputation of Australia as a 'clean and green' source of agricultural
>produce and will raise valid questions about our attitudes to animal
>welfare issues.
>
>"The Minister's decision flies in the face of the findings of a
>Parliamentary Inquiry, conducted in 1995, into problems caused by
>cockatoos.
>
>"After hearing expert opinions - and processing more than 140
>submissions - that committee recommended increased penalties for the
>illegal use of poisons to destroy birds and recommended a long list of
>alternative remedies
>
>"The AVA considers that a combination of the control measures
>recommended by the parliamentary committee should form the basis of any
>program to control crop damage caused by cockatoos.
>
>"If other methods are to be considered, they should be target-specific,
>throughly researched as to their effectiveness and proven through pilot
>studies, before widespread use is permitted", Dr Macwhirter said.
>
>(*Psittacosis can cause severe respiratory problems in humans, leading
>to chronic illness and even death.)
>
>
>
>If you would like further information, please contact Dr Macwhirter on
>Ph) 03 9808 9011 or the AVA Communications Manager, Mr Dennis Ringrose,
>on Ph) 02 9411 2733.
>
>
>--
>Dennis Ringrose
>Communications Manager
>Australian Veterinary Association
>Ph +612 94112733 Fax + 612 9411 5089
>
>http://www.ava.com.au
>
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