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2003 Media Releases

VICTORIAN DUCK RESCUE TEAM TO HELP TASMANIA'S WATERBIRDS

3 March 2003

DOES THE TAS ENVIRONMENT MINISTER REALLY SHOOT OUR NATIVE WATERBIRDS?

 

MEDIA CONFERENCE, 11.15AM, FRIDAY 7 MARCH, 2003, CORUS HOTEL, HOBART

 

The Coalition Against Duck Shooting will send an experienced rescue and veterinary team down to Tasmania for the opening weekend of the 2003 duck season (8-9 March).

 

The coalition’s campaign director, Laurie Levy, today said he was disappointed, but not surprised that the Tasmanian Government hadn’t acted responsibly and called a moratorium on this year’s duck season because of the ongoing drought.

 

“We had hoped that the Tasmanian Government would follow the South Australian and Victorian Governments’ decisions to call off the 2003 duck season. However, when we heard on the grapevine that the Tasmanian Minister for the Environment,

Bryan Green, is a keen duck shooter, we decided it was necessary to send a rescue team to Tasmania,” Levy said.

 

“To make the situation even worse, we understand that the minister’s own department has recommended that the 2003 duck shooting season be cancelled because bird numbers are low and many wetlands throughout the state are dry. Waterbirds seeking refuge from the drought will congregate on wetlands that still have water. These birds will be an easy target for shooters.

 

“Decisions related to declaring a duck season are not usually based on scientific advice or environmental concerns, but simply on political
considerations. This situation is made worse by the minister’s own personal bias – the fact that he has a personal interest as a duck shooter.”

 

Many mainland native duck species have flown to Tasmania seeking refuge from the long running drought. “These birds need to be protected so they can return to the mainland to breed once the drought breaks,” he said.

 

Western Australia banned the recreational shooting of native waterbirds in 1990.

New South Wales followed with a ban on recreational duck shooting in 1995.

 

Media Conference, Friday 7 March, 11.15am, Wellington Room, Corus Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart.

 

Victorian rescuers will join Tasmanian rescuers at Moulting Lagoon, at the entrance to Fraycinet National Park, on Saturday morning, 8 March.

 

For further information contact:

Laurie Levy, Campaign Director
Tel (03) 9645 8879 (24hrs) Mobile 0418 392 826

Bob Riep, Tasmanian rescue team Mobile 0417 143 028