The Liberal National Party’s re-introduction of lethal methods
The LNP did won Government in Queensland, and re-introduced permits on September 7 2012 (ironically, on threatened Species Day). It is more important than ever to put pressure on the Government to end this animal cruelty, regardless of the rationale use to try to justify these inhumane practices.
Since then, things have deteriorated for flying-foxes in Queensland with the reintroduction of shooting in orchards, relaxation of laws and welfare standards for dispersals and destruction of urban camps, and the weakening of vegetation laws. Flying-foxes have been exempted from humaneness laws that apply to all other native wildlife in Queensland.
What does this mean in practice?
Reintroduction of "lethal methods" returned Queensland to the position that existed prior to the 2008 ban on shooting flying-foxes. In practice, this means that any fruit grower who is not prepared to invest in nets or suffers only occasional damage from flying-foxes (meaning that it is not economically justified to invest in nets) will be permitted to kill flying-foxes. Apart from the fact that shooting bats is unarguably cruel, it is often ineffective. Many ethical fruit-growers have already made the investment in safe netting, why should a vocal minority be allowed to use methods which the Qld Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, the RSPCA and an independent study, all found to be inhumane?
Because there is no fully effective non-lethal deterrent apart from netting, the qualification “where non-lethal deterrents have failed" will be no barrier to growers acquiring a permit for lethal methods.
Although the LNP did impose a quota similar to that which existed from 2002-2008, this would not stop growers killing far larger numbers of flying-foxes. It is almost impossible to enforce limits on numbers killed on private property. Several hundred flying-foxes are routinely killed in an orchard when shooting is used.
Note: There is no such thing as a ‘lethal deterrent’. Dead flying-foxes do not protect orchards from other flying-foxes.
Since then, things have deteriorated for flying-foxes in Queensland with the reintroduction of shooting in orchards, relaxation of laws and welfare standards for dispersals and destruction of urban camps, and the weakening of vegetation laws. Flying-foxes have been exempted from humaneness laws that apply to all other native wildlife in Queensland.
What does this mean in practice?
Reintroduction of "lethal methods" returned Queensland to the position that existed prior to the 2008 ban on shooting flying-foxes. In practice, this means that any fruit grower who is not prepared to invest in nets or suffers only occasional damage from flying-foxes (meaning that it is not economically justified to invest in nets) will be permitted to kill flying-foxes. Apart from the fact that shooting bats is unarguably cruel, it is often ineffective. Many ethical fruit-growers have already made the investment in safe netting, why should a vocal minority be allowed to use methods which the Qld Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, the RSPCA and an independent study, all found to be inhumane?
Because there is no fully effective non-lethal deterrent apart from netting, the qualification “where non-lethal deterrents have failed" will be no barrier to growers acquiring a permit for lethal methods.
Although the LNP did impose a quota similar to that which existed from 2002-2008, this would not stop growers killing far larger numbers of flying-foxes. It is almost impossible to enforce limits on numbers killed on private property. Several hundred flying-foxes are routinely killed in an orchard when shooting is used.
Note: There is no such thing as a ‘lethal deterrent’. Dead flying-foxes do not protect orchards from other flying-foxes.