We, the undersigned, call on the Government of the Australian Capital Territory to
remove the ban on translocating kangaroos from the former Belconnen Naval
Transmission Station to suitable properties across the border, and thereby remove
the
Monday May 19, 2008, 8:44 pm
Description/History:
In May 2007 the media exposed a covert plan by the Department of Defence and the
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government to shoot to kill up to 3,200 Kangaroos at two Defence sites in the ACT.
The reasons given at the time: to ‘save’ the kangaroos from starving and to prevent them from competing with certain endangered grassland species reported to be on these sites: the golden sun moth, a legless lizard, and the earless dragon.
Around 500 of these kangaroos are trapped by a 2.5 metre high fence on a 116 hectare parcel of land at the former Belconnen Naval Transmission Station (BNTS). Of these, the plan was for 400 to be killed and have the remaining kangaroos forcefully sterilised. Somewhat extreme and barbaric measures to protect a moth, and unlikely to be the real reason why the ACT Government is so keen to clear this site, as the area around it is earmarked for housing development.
Following an immediate public outcry and subsequent consultations between Defence and a range of interest groups, Defence agreed to consult more widely. Members of Wildcare, a local volunteer wildlife rescue organisation with over 15 years of hands-on experience rescuing and rehabilitating kangaroos, submitted a proposal to Defence recommending a whole-of-ecosystem approach to the kangaroo issue. This preliminary proposal also detailed a workable strategy for the translocation of kangaroos.
Finally in September 2007, after consultations with Wildcare and a panel of experts, Defence announced that it would implement a kangaroo management plan in the ACT designed to promote sound ecological management and a responsible approach to animal welfare. The plan was to use a mix of translocation, fertility control and – only where necessary – euthanasia to bring the kangaroo population into balance with the ecosystem at the BNTS site. The contract to the successful to implement this strategy was awarded in early 2008.
Suddenly on 29 February, the ACT Government announced that it would block any application for a permit to allow the 'export' of kangaroos from the BNTS site. Not coincidentally, the ACT’s official kangaroo ‘culling season’ (killing season) recommenced the very next day.
This is EXTREMELY URGENT! Defence has gone back on their word, and tthe slaughter of these kangaroos on the site STARTED YESTERDAY (19 May 2008) and will continue over the next few days until they've killed more than 400.
These kangaroos are healthy and there is currently ample grass on the site following good rains over summer, and higher than average rain predicted over the coming months. There is absolutely no need for this slaughter to proceed. There are viable alternatives available, including translocation, but Defence has ruled this out as being too expensive. A number of suitable properties in NSW have been proposed to the contractor. The ACT Government’s decision to withhold these permits and mandate the killing of these kangaroos equates to brutal and unnecessary murder of Australia’s most important native species.
Photos of what is happening right now to these kangaroos can be viewed at www.kangaroolives.com and a video news report from yesterday's killing fields is can be viewed here.
Please help us send the ACT and Australian Federal Governments a clear message by signing this petition now! Let these kangaroos live!
Petition:
We, the undersigned, call on the Government of the Australian Capital Territory to
remove the ban on translocating kangaroos from the former Belconnen Naval
Transmission Station to suitable properties across the border, and thereby remove
the perceived need to have them slaughtered cruelly and unnecessarily.
Sign the petitionThe Save The Belconnen Kangaroos! petition to ACT GOVERNMENT was written by Brett Clifton and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.
Tuesday May 20, 2008, 6:01 am
Signed but I really think bombarding them with emails, letters and phonecalls would be better. This is disgusting!! What is wrong with this world? Not content with murdering each other in wars we have to go around murdering animals in their millions too. Is there any light at the end of this tunnel.
Tuesday May 20, 2008, 6:22 am
Noted and signed but i agree with Alf we should start emailing them until the servers collaps! Can anybody arrange a prepared e mail to the right targets?
I am sure that if they would receive thousands of e mails that would be more of a problem than 1000 signatures!
Tuesday May 20, 2008, 6:28 am
Alf I fear not until we all unite for all casues...Yesssssssss e-mails of course and they lose there servers they will notice us all will they not??? I have signed Bea my sweet..
Big Gorilly Hugs
If we are gonna save the planet we gotta save our animals....
The Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd
Tel: +61 (0)2 6277 7700
Fax: +61 (0)2 6273 4100
Queensland numbers:
Tel: +61 (0)7 3899 4031
Fax: +61 (0)7 3899 5755
Website: http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm
The Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon
Tel: +61 (0)2 6277 7800
Fax: +61 (0)2 6273 4118
Email: J.Fitzgibbon.MP@aph.gov.au
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr
Michael Kelly AM
Tel: +61 (0)2 6277 4840
Fax: +61 (0)2 6277 8556
Email: ParliamentarySecretaryDS@defence.gov.au
The Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett
Tel: +61 (0)2 6277 7640
Fax: +61 (0)2 6273 6101
Website:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memfeedback.asp?id=HV4
Tuesday May 20, 2008, 7:06 am
TY Lyn 4 the forward. Bea, my friend TY for the article, I just commented and signed for the kangaroos, I am #5231
I will also be calling there and writing letters, TODAY, the sooner the better, thanks to Linda M. for all of her information. Noted w/sadness...
Blessings to all...
FreeSpirit...
