As Use Increases by 44% Last Financial Year
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today tabled in Parliament their legislation to ban the use of 1080 against native wildlife, the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Amendment (Ban 1080) Bill 2009.
Greens Opposition Primary Industries spokesperson Kim Booth MHA, who introduced the legislation today, said that it is long overdue for the Labor government to take seriously its responsibility to ban the usage of this horrendous poison.
“The Tasmanian community’s tolerance for the continued reliance upon 1080 to target native animals expired long ago, and public pressure to cease the practice continues to grow,” Mr Booth said.
“Lets make no mistake, poisoning by 1080 is a slow agonising death. It is of grave concern that the use of 1080 against native animals has increased dramatically by 44% over the last financial year.”
“Tasmania’s clean, green image is at risk as well, and this damage to our brand impacts upon both our tourism and agricultural sectors, and so a ban on 1080 poison delivers both humanity and sound long term economic benefits to the whole community.”
“People from across a broad public spectrum are disgusted and appalled at the wanton cruelty of subjecting our wallabies, wombats, bettongs, and carnivorous scavengers such as wedgetail eagles, quolls, and devils to this agonising death,” Mr Booth said.
“Extra effort must be invested in identifying effective alternatives to 1080 to control browsing native animals.”
“I urge both Labor and the Liberals to support the Greens’ legislation which calls for an immediate ban on the use of 1080 to target our native wildlife,” Mr Booth said.
The Greens’ legislation contains a sunset clause enabling the Fox Taskforce to make resort to the use of 1080 for a limited period expiring in two years time in October 2011.
Kim Booth MP Greens Primary Industry spokesperson
