>From The Greens... Saddening stuff... perhaps we can make a few phone
calls to certain places in Victoria...
>>> Greens Media Officer <> 17/03/2006
1:16:42 pm >>>
Media Release: for immediate use
Greens Call to Immediately Cancel the Cruel Annual Duck Shoot
The Greens are calling on Victorian Premier Steve Bracks to step in
and cancel the 2006 Victorian Duck Shooting season which is due to
open on Saturday (March 18, 2006).
"The evidence is in," said Greens biodiversity spokesperson, and
Western Victoria Upper House Region candidate, Marcus Ward. "When
Australia's leading waterbird expert says this year's duck shooting
season should be banned, it is irresponsible for the state government
to ignore this advice just to appease a shrivelling number of duck
hunters."
A survey by Dr Richard Kingsford from the University of NSW has found
that there are about 200,000 waterbirds in eastern Australia and that:
- the wetland area has receded to the second lowest ever recorded -
the duck population increase has been dominated by two species that
are off limits to shooters.
"Duck numbers at this level resulted in a shooting ban in
2003. However, this year, the Victorian government has not only
approved a full 12 week shooting season but has also increased the
daily bag limit by 40 per cent," said Marcus. "Last year's limit was
five ducks per day - this year it will be seven."
"It seems that the state government has acted on the Department of
Sustainability and Environment advice in declaring a season this year.
Premier Bracks should be heeding the real expert instead and ban the
shoot" said Marcus Ward.
The Victorian Greens are committed to a permanent ban on recreational
duck hunting.
Marcus Ward is The Greens Victoria lead candidate for the Upper
House Region of Western Victoria in this year's state election
(November 25, 2006),
Background - Despite adopting a policy to end recreational duck
hunting
in Victoria back in June 1991, the Bracks government has refused so
far to move on their policy. A factional deal done at the 2003 state
ALP conference formally hog tied the party on the duck hunting issue.
-There is overwhelming public support to end duck hunting. According
to and AC Neilson survey in March 2003, 70% of Victorians wanted a
permanent end to recreational duck hunting.
More Information:
- Marcus Ward: ph. 5423 5254 / mob. 0427 235 254
- Dave Lane: 0419 156 213.
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