The State Government has announced the virtual end of recreational duck and quail hunting in Queensland. The Premier Peter Beattie and Minister for the Environment Desley Boyle jointly announced today that no more management plans for duck and quail hunting will be put in place after the current plan expires on 1 September this year.
Duck and quail recreational hunting can only take place under a management plan, so this decision effectively bans recreational hunting of these birds.
This latest announcement follows the government's decision in April this year that there would be no 2005 duck and quail hunting season due to long-term drought conditions and falling waterfowl populations throughout eastern Australia.
What WPSQ says…
Wildlife Queensland would like the Queensland Government to formalise this state of affairs into a permanent ban on the recreational hunting of duck and quail. Wildlife Queensland will be encouraging its fellow alliance members to join the Society in making a submission to the Minister of the Environment to take the final step of banning this cruel sport.
The Premier and the Minister indicated that the State Government paid attention to the concerns raised by animal welfare interests and took the advice of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee that recommended the abandonment of the management plan.
This announcement is another significant victory in the continuing battle by wildlife and humane treatment supporters - including the alliance of Wildlife Queensland in association with Animal Liberation Queensland, the RSPCA, Queensland Conservation Council and Birds Queensland - to get a permanent ban on the recreational hunting of ducks and quail.
"Wildlife Queensland is jubilant about this ban," said Des Boyland, WPSQ Policies Manager and leading activist in the alliance. "But we would like to see a permanent formal ban so that a future, less-caring government will have difficulty revoking the move."
The recreational hunting of duck and quail is banned in Western Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
More about WPSQ's campaign against duck and quail hunting in Queensland.
For more information about the poultry shed grant scheme and other activities, contact Wildlife Queensland by email or call +61 7 3221 0194. |
