Volume 15 • Issue 2 • July 2009
NEWSLETTER Humane Society International Inc. ABN 63 510 927 032 PO Box 439 Avalon NSW 2107 Australia Telephone (02) 9973 1728 • Facsimile (02) 9973 1729 • Email admin@hsi.org.au www.hsi.org.au
MASSIVE RESPONSE TO HSI SURVEY
Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
SI protecting H sharks
Thanks to all our supporters who have taken the time to complete and return our 2014 National Survey on conservation and animal protection. It is wonderful to know that you are all so engaged and educated in so many of the issues impacting on animals and the environments they rely on. We are also distributing the survey to a cross section of the community who are not supporters of HSI to ensure any data collected and presented to Government is not deemed ‘distorted’ because of a sympathetic audience. Importantly in the past the results have not varied significantly between HSI supporters and a cold audience. It would seem that most members of the public have the same concerns when it comes to environmental degradation and animal cruelty. It is just Government and industry that is lagging behind. We will publish the results in the next newsletter but the initial response certainly shows that we are on the right track and you are concerned about many of the things we are already working on. Surprisingly, given the ecological importance of the species, 18% of our supporters do not think we should protect flying foxes so we need to do more work to show why they are absolutely vital to the health of our ecosystems. Interesting comments are coming in re greyhound racing with only 88% saying they support the closure of this ‘industry’, but it would seem the main concern from the other 12% is that the sport will go underground and the cruelty will escalate. Some of the concerns you raised that are not in the survey are bear bile, whaling, horse racing and circuses and I just wanted to let you know we do work on those issues. We are currently funding an investigation by Interpol in an attempt to break the bear bile trade routes, and of course it was HSI that ran the successful court case against the Japanese whalers. Our work to improve the lives of circus and rodeo animals, racing and jumps horses – in fact all animals in entertainment is ongoing. Our surveys have been very effective in helping establish consumer expectation of the free range egg buying public and the question relating to free range pork will be extremely helpful in our campaign to bring clarity to the murky pork market. We have included a short survey specific to pork in this newsletter and would really appreciate your feedback. The results will be shared with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to help them understand consumer expectation of free range production. Once again we would like to thank you for taking the time to complete and return the surveys. Much appreciated!
Great White Shark © iStockphoto com - cbabbitt
Every year, approximately 75 million sharks are caught worldwide and sold principally for the use of their fins in shark fin soup. Internationally HSI has been at the forefront of recent shark conservation efforts, having been responsible for a landmark victory in August 2013 when India banned the live finning of sharks through the adoption of a ‘fins naturally attached’ measure. This new policy requires fishers to land sharks with their fins intact. As one of the largest shark fin exporters in the world, this sets an important precedent for countries worldwide to stop the cruel practice of removing shark fins from live sharks and throwing the body back overboard, a practice thankfully long since banned in Australia with the help of HSI. In addition the Government of Hong Kong recently announced that it would no longer serve shark fins at official functions and instructed government employees not to consume shark fins at external functions – a huge step forward! The more recent announcement that the Hilton Worldwide group of hotels will stop serving shark fin in all its Asia Pacific hotels from 1st April 2014 is also an extremely welcome announcement, which we hope that many other hotels will follow. continued over ▶ 1
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS First of all may we thank you enormously for your great response to our recent survey of attitudes towards wildlife conservation and animal welfare. The results clearly show how much HSI and our supporters think alike and truly care for the environment and all the creatures that live in it. It gives us great encouragement to fight on! Following on from this most recent survey, you will find on the back of the donation form, some specific questions about the treatment of pigs on farms that we would very much appreciate your thoughts on. Other good news to bring this issue is the fact that all pork and egg producers on Kangaroo Island in South Australia are now signed up as Humane Choice accredited farmers! (see page 3.) Meanwhile we are battling state and Federal governments on a range of environmental fronts, with their new and priority emphasis on making way for big industry at the expence of wild animals and wild places – it has been decades since we have seen such an unprecedented attack on environmental law and the right of the public to defend nature. The Commonwealth Government plans before the end of this year to give away its strong powers of environmental protection to the rapacious states and territories, and we still need you help in pressuring the Abbott government to stop this disastrous policy (see page 5). Some of the wildlife victims of environmental deregulation are sharks and flying foxes. You will not have failed to see the ongoing media about the Western Australian government’s “shark culling” policy, permitting the killing of the threatened great white shark and incidentally taking many other shark species. This is an unfortunate example of politics winning over good science and common sense, where public polls in
WA have shown that the majority of people are opposed to the cull. Similarly, the threatened grey headed flying fox, all along the east coast of Australia, is under immense pressure from habitat loss, while state and local governments sanction their removal from essential roosting sites. Please help us protect these species and let governments know your feelings (see pages 8 and 7). On the international front, you’ll see some good news stories inside about our programs to protect lemurs, gibbons and painted dogs, and a plea for you to write to Greg Hunt, Commonwealth Minister for the Environment, asking that he help HSI support these programs to save endangered wildlife in Asia and Africa (see page 11) Thanks to you all as ever for your constant support, especially in these times when the race for the almighty dollar seems to be all that is important to governments and big business – but our partnership with you will ensure that the wild and domestic creatures of this world will survive. Best wishes
Michael Kennedy and Verna Simpson Directors
HSI protecting sharks (continued) Even though we already have a finning ban in place in Australia, there is more we need to do. States around the world have been tightening their laws to help sharks, and one of the best ways of doing this is to introduce laws that ban the sale, trade and possession of shark fins. This has already happened in the US states of California and Hawaii and many other nations are also considering similar legislation. As a result, before the September 2013 federal election, HSI wrote to all three major political parties requesting they support an Australian ban on the sale, trade and possession of shark fins. HSI is also working to address the demand by writing to Asian restaurants and asking them to stop serving shark fin soup, starting with Sydney restaurants. And your help would be appreciated – if you see shark fin soup being served please ask the restaurant to stop serving shark fin soup and pledge to go ‘fin free’.
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ACTION REQUIRED Look out for shark fin soup on menus of Asian restaurants – if they serve shark fin soup ask them to go ‘shark fin free’, letting the restaurant know of the cruel and unsustainable nature of shark fins. Please let HSI know of any restaurants in your local area that sell shark fins and we will also write to them. Write to Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to greg.hunt.mp@environment.gov.au, and to Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade, P O Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to Andrew. Robb.MP@aph.gov.au, asking that they support an Australian ban on the sale, trade and possession of shark fins. Please send copies of any replies to us.
Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
elp save the H Painted Dogs of Africa through the lens of a camera The Painted Dogs of Africa are highly endangered with only 3,000-5,000 remaining in the wild. They have been persecuted for centuries and are now found in only a few locations. One of these is in Zimbabwe where we work with our partner organisation, Painted Dog Conservation, to ensure the survival of a large population. HSI has been supporting this program, thanks to your generosity, for over 10 years. Working with local communities is the best way to get results and working with kids is even better! By connecting the kids of the local community to the environment around them, and to Painted Dogs, they develop an emotional connection to nature and to conservation. Recent experience in the bush camps has shown that introducing the kids to the environment with cameras is having a great positive impact. Unfortunately the bush camps are short of cameras, although they have everything else! That’s where HSI supporters come in. Your donation will buy a camera for the kids at these special camps to help them make a positive emotional connection to the environment, conservation, and the endangered Painted Dogs of Africa. It’s that simple. If you’d like help create the next generation of conservationists in Africa by buying a camera for $160.00, please call our office on free call 1800 333 737.
ll Kangaroo Island pork A and egg producers sign up to Humane Choice
Painted dogs © shutterstock com - Francois van Heerden
Every pork and egg producer on Kangaroo Island in South Australia is now certified Humane Choice and consumers can rest assured that any products from the Island are now true free range to the highest welfare standards Australia offers! This success reflects the increasing interest and growth of Humane Choice throughout Australia, with producers recognising the value and strength in certified welfare standards. They continue to stand out from the crowd with their ethical values, as consumer demand for food produced using humane farming methods and pasture raised systems escalates. The past year has also seen the development of a huge free range egg farm designed to Humane Choice standards, with the potential to supply genuine free range eggs at an affordable price to all Australians.
Lake Farm Kangaroo Island
With the ever-increasing flood of Humane Choice applications, 2014 will see the availability of true free range eggs expand into more alternate and boutique food outlets, and we are signing up new pork producers every month. For more details on the latest suppliers of true free range produce, visit www.humanechoice. com.au. As caring consumers like you drive the increasing demand for ethically produced meat and eggs, the year ahead looks very bright for Humane Choice. 3
Georgie Stewart
Greyhound racing under the spotlight in NSW Parliamentary Inquiry Australia represents the 3rd largest greyhound racing industry in the world, with New South Wales being home to 34 of the 77 race tracks. The industry is fraught with allegations of animal cruelty, corruption, over-breeding, and the use of illegal drugs. On average, one greyhound dies every day on an Australian race track. Thousands of dogs are euthanised each year either after being injured, for being too slow, for reaching the end of their ‘careers’, or they are just considered surplus to demand. Although the exact numbers are unknown due to lack of proper monitoring, an estimated 17,000 greyhounds are believed to be killed in Australia each year – it would follow that New South Wales, where most races take place, would account for at least 8,000 of these deaths. Injuries from racing are common and may include broken legs, paralysis, head trauma, or cardiac arrest from the exertion. Alarmingly, accounts of greyhounds being killed inhumanely are widely reported. The industry has also been under scrutiny for allegations of the use of performance enhancing drugs, using live animals as bait during training, as well as links to motorcycle clubs and associated criminal activity. Considering the lack of public support for this industry it is incomprehensible that Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) recently demanded $154 million in funds from the State government. As Australian taxpayers, we need to let the NSW Government know that we are not happy to have our taxes used to support a cruel and unsustainable industry. Fortunately the New South Wales government opened an inquiry into greyhound racing last year and called for public submissions. An astounding number of submissions were received and a big thank you goes to our HSI supporters who made a tremendous
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Georgie Stewart
contribution. The submissions are overwhelmingly in favour of bringing a phased end to greyhound racing. It will be interesting to see how Government responds. The state parliamentary inquiry has involved a series of Forums and Public Hearings with the final one coinciding with the ‘Gone are the Dogs Rally’ hosted by Greyhound Freedom on 6th February, supported by HSI. The Final Report will be released on 28th March 2014 so we’re hopeful that, at the very least, it will demand an overhaul of the animal welfare standards the industry has deemed acceptable for so long.
WHAT YOU CAN DO • Please don’t support or bet on a greyhound race. • Contact the following MP’s to let them know you don’t support greyhound racing, nor do you want your tax dollars to continue funding it: The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP – Minister for Primary Industries: By email to office@hodgkinson.minister. nsw.gov.au, by post to Level 30, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000, or phone (02) 9228 5210. The Hon George Souris MP – Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing: By email to office@souris.minister.nsw. gov.au, by post to Level 30, Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney NSW 2000, or phone (02) 9228 5218. The Hon Barry O’Farrell MP – NSW Premier: By email to office@premier. nsw.gov.au, by post to GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001, or phone (02) 9228 5239. Your Local State MP – Use the following link and go to the ‘What You Can Do’ section on the Greyhound Racing page on our website for a link to Local State MP contact details: http://hsi.org.au/?catID=1411 • Consider adopting a greyhound – there are a number of independent adoption groups.
Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
National environment laws still in danger Despite the significant work of HSI, as part of the broader Places You Love alliance of over 40 conservation organisations, the Federal Government is full steam ahead in implementing its election commitment to devolve all its national powers to protect the environment to the states and territories (the so called ‘one-stopshop’ approach). Prime Minister Abbott has set a target of having agreements with all the state and territory governments in place within one year of the September 2013 Federal election, and so far it appears as if this disastrous commitment is on track.
HSI has consistently voiced its objections to the handover of approval powers to state and territory Governments, as reported in previous newsletters, and will continue to do so. For many of our most important places and wildlife, it is essential that a national approach is maintained, rather decisions made in silos from a state-wide perspective. The Places You Love alliance has been planning its future work for the next two years
and is now ramping up its campaign to ensure that conservation groups continue to speak with one voice to ensure that our nature is protected. HSI continues to play a central role in this alliance. We continue to believe that our focus on strengthening our environment laws is vital, particularly as states such as NSW have already heralded a desire to review (and significantly weaken) the state environment laws, and this will remain a central plank of HSI’s work.
ACTION REQUIRED Write to Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to greg.hunt. mp@environment.gov.au telling him that you are totally opposed to the handing back Commonwealth environment powers to states and territories and that you believe it is the environmental disaster of the century. Please send copies of any replies to us.
Coolibah black box woodland - John Benson
Become an HSI regular supporter and spread your donations evenly across the year! Although our campaigners have many specific targets each year there is also a great need to plan long term strategies for many of the major environmental and animal welfare issues we face. By supporting us with a regular monthly pledge, you empower us to budget with confidence for these projects. As a regular supporter of HSI, your tax-deductible donations will be deducted from either your credit card (Amex, Mastercard, Visa) or a nominated bank account once per month, and can start with any amount that suits your budget! To receive further information please feel free to contact our office on free call 1800 333 737 or simply complete the coupon below to receive our regular pledge authorisation forms. Thank you also to all our existing regular supporters – without your help our work for the animals would be greatly diminished.
4 Yes, please send more information on becoming a regular supporter of HSI. Title First Name
Last Name
Postal Address State Postcode
Contact Phone ( )
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Gibbon rescue HSI’s major conservation partner in Indonesia is in the thick of things as ever, recently rescuing some highly threatened gibbons. The following is taken from their media release: “Tabanan, Bali, 05 February 2014 – Friends of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF) is caring for a group of endangered juvenile gibbons which have just been rescued from wildlife traders.
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The primates –three Agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) from Kalimantan and four siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus) from Sumatra – arrived at our Bali Wildlife Rescue Center in Tabanan on 23 January after being confiscated by forest rangers. One of the baby Agile gibbons has since died – he was very weak and suffered from having been separated from his mother and the hardship of his long journey. The traders had kept the gibbons –believed to be destined for Russia – in boxes and taken them across Indonesia.
release native endangered wildlife, most of which are the victims of illegal trading and poaching”.
unrevealing the international networks and syndicates in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Europe countries.
“All of them are very young – two of them are still so young that they need to be bottle-fed and require attention 24/7,” FNPF’s founder and director, Dr Bayu Wirayudha says. “They have all received health checks, and some of them have received medical treatment”.
The seven gibbons –– were confiscated by the Department of Forestry’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) in Bali on 17 January. The traders have been arrested by technical assistance of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Wildlife Crime Unit.
“Our rescue center– one of only seven of such facilities in Indonesia – provides a vital link in the process of returning distressed wildlife to their natural habitat. We care for, rehabilitate and
Coordinator of the Crimes Unit at the WCS, Irma Hermawati, congratulated the BKSDA on saving the animals and catching the traders. She hopes that BKSDA and police are successful in
“To take a baby gibbon from its parents poachers usually have to shoot the mother”, says Ms Lehtinen. “Sometimes the father and older siblings are able to escape. As with other primates, gibbons have a long intra-birth interval and so poaching has a devastating effect on wild populations”.
Agile gibbon - Julie Langford
FNPF thanks Humane Society International (Australia) for funding the rescue center’s operation costs since we took over operations in 2011.
Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
Flying-foxes under attack HSI is sad to report that flying-foxes, in particular the threatened grey-headed flying-foxes protected under both state and Federal environment laws (after a nomination by HSI) have been under assault from all fronts in recent months, particularly in NSW and Queensland where they spent most of their time. As a nomadic species which moves up and down the east coast following the availability of key food sources, the grey-headed flyingfox can often appear in large numbers as they form camps overnight. Sadly, the species is vulnerable to extinction due to loss of habitat, and increasingly this means that large numbers of the bats are settling in camps closer and closer to people, which is causing bad feeling towards these bats. As a key species, responsible for the pollination of our native forests, it is essential that we accommodate them not keep relocating them. HSI believes it is time the important role of flying-foxes in our ecosystem is better understood and recognised to increase public support and ensure their much needed protection.
Government has made significant efforts to make this dispersal process as easy as possible by devolving responsibility for dispersals to local government, and made flying-fox dispersals exempt from humane requirements, making it incredibly difficult to challenge any dispersals on welfare grounds. By devolving these decisions to a local level for such a wide-ranging animal, it means that bats are being turfed out of important camp sites all over Queensland, and soon there will be very few safe places for them to roost.
HSI has also been particularly concerned in recent months by the large number of dispersals, which are actions approved by government to move bats away from particular camp sites where they are in conflict. Many of these sites form critical habitat for the bats, as they are near important food sources or areas where the bats give birth to their young. In particular in Queensland, the current
Sadly flying-foxes are particularly susceptible to heat stress in the summer months, and these past two summers have been particularly bad, with thousands of bats lost to heat stress. Please help us to tackle all the threats flying-foxes are facing, by writing to the Queensland, NSW and Federal Governments and voicing your support for this critical species for our native forests.
In NSW, there is a 2011 election commitment in place to end the shooting of flyingfoxes in orchards by 1 July 2014. HSI has been working for more than a decade with orchardists and farming representatives towards this goal, which includes a netting subsidy package, providing orchardists with a contribution towards exclusion netting which is the only proven way to protect crops from flying-foxes. HSI is looking forward to the implementation of this commitment in the coming months.
Grey Headed Flying Fox - Nick Edards
ACTION REQUIRED Please write to the Queensland and NSW state governments and urge them to do everything they can to better protect flying-foxes, due to the important role they play as a pollinator of our native forests. Ask Queensland’s Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell MP, to ensure that flyingfoxes are treated humanely during dispersals, and these requirements are a central element of any consideration before dispersal begins. Write to: Andrew Powell MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Level 13, 400 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 or by email to environment@ministerial.qld. gov.au Tell the NSW’s Minister for the Environment, The Hon Robyn Parker MP, that you are looking forward to the implementation of the 1st July 2014 commitment to end licensed shooting in NSW, and encourage her Government to do everything it can to support the conservation of flying-foxes. Write to: The Hon Robyn Parker MP, Minister for the Environment, Level 32 Governor Macquarie Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney, NSW 2000 or by email to office@parker. minister.nsw.gov.au Ask Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to greg. hunt.mp@environment.gov.au to take full Commonwealth responsibility for the protection of Federally listed flying foxes, to complete and implement national recovery plans, and to take full account of the cumulative effects on these listed species when assessing proposals to move flying fox colonies.
Nick Edards
Please send copies of any replies to us.
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H SI fights shark culling in Western Australia Federal Court to stop the killing, but the severe financial costs of losing the case became prohibitive.
Tiger shark © shutterstock.com - A. Cotton
In March last year HSI reported that the Western Australian government had plans to take proactive action to protect people from sharks. Sadly this prediction came true, with a new ‘shark mitigation strategy’ announced in December 2013 by Premier Colin Barnett. HSI believes this to be an unscientific and unjustified response to the very low risk of shark bites, as killing sharks does nothing to reduce this risk. The new WA policy aims to target large great white, bull and tiger sharks of more than 3 metres in length, in two new ‘marine monitored areas’, one off the coast of metropolitan Perth, the second in the South West, the location of a number of shark bite incidents. In late January, 72 baited drumlines were placed 1 kilometre from shore in these two areas. We understand that large sharks seen in these two zones will be actively pursued and caught. Data released by the WA Government shows that between 25th January and 16th February 67 sharks have been caught on
these drumlines. Of these 67 sharks, 63 have been tiger sharks, 1 blacktip shark, and 2 Federally protected mako sharks. No great white sharks have been reportedly caught. 26 of the 67 sharks have either been found dead or ‘destroyed’ as they were above the prescribed 3 metre level; 9 of these 26 sharks have been under 3 metres and found dead on the hooks, including both mako sharks found. HSI suspects that of the remaining 40 sharks released ‘alive’, many of these will have suffered significant injury and will not survive the capture trauma. WA’s policy has generated an unprecedented amount of public attention, with protests opposing the new policy held in January attended by thousands of people. HSI originally gained state and national protection for the great white shark, and has been actively campaigning throughout this time against the new WA Government policy. We have investigated all possible legal routes, both domestic and international, and we were just hours away from seeking an injunction in the
HSI believes that the Federal Government is failing to meet its international obligations as a result of killing migratory species, such as the mako shark, and the target of the new strategy the great white shark, both of which are protected domestically as a result of their international migratory status.
ACTION REQUIRED Please write to Colin Barnett and Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, asking them to end the killing of sharks immediately. This new policy has strong public opposition, is unscientific and impacting on federally protected species such as the great white shark. Instead, the WA Government should increase research on sharks to better understand and educate ocean-users and the Federal Government should rescind the “exemption” from the law it has given WA. Ask Greg Hunt not to approve any future culling program. Write to Colin Barnett, Premier of Western Australia at 1 Parliament Place, WEST PERTH WA 6005 or by e-mail to wa-government@dpc.wa.gov. au and to Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to greg.hunt.mp@environment.gov.au Please send copies of any replies to us.
How can I help animals even when I no longer share their world? Through your bequest for animal protection to Humane Society International, you can provide for animals after you’ve gone. Naming HSI in your Will demonstrates your lasting commitment to animal protection and strengthens the Society for this task. We will be happy to send information about our animal protection programs and material that will assist you in planning a Will.
4 Yes, please send more information on leaving a bequest to HSI. Name Address City
State Postcode
PLEASE POST TO HSI, PO BOX 439, AVALON NSW 2107 OR PHONE FREECALL 1800 333 737
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Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
List of Conservation and Animal Welfare Ministers FEDERAL:
NEW SOUTH WALES:
The Honourable Tony Abbott MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7700 Fax: (02) 6273 4100 Visit www.pm.gov.au and use the ‘Contact Your PM’ facility
NSW Premier** The Honourable Barry O’Farrell MP GPO Box 5341 SYDNEY NSW 2001 Tel: (02) 9228 5239 Fax: (02) 9228 3935 http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/contactpremier-new-south-wales
Minister for the Environment The Honourable Greg Hunt MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7920 Fax: (02) 6273 7330 greg.hunt.mp@environment.gov.au Minister for Agriculture* The Honourable Barnaby Joyce MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7520 Fax: (02) 6273 4120 Barnaby.Joyce.MP@aph.gov.au Leader of the Opposition The Honourable Bill Shorten MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 4022 Fax: (02) 6277 8562 Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne PO Box 6100 Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 3170 Fax: (02) 6277 3185 senator.milne@aph.gov.au VICTORIA: VIC Premier The Honourable Dr Denis Napthine MLA Level 1, 1 Treasury Place MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Tel: (03) 9651 5000 Fax: (03) 9651 5054 premier@dpc.vic.gov.au Minister for Agriculture and Food Security* The Honourable Peter Walsh MP Level 16, 8 Nicholson Street EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Tel: (03) 9637 9940 Fax: (03) 9637 8254 peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au Minister for Environment and Climate Change The Honourable Ryan Smith MP Level 17, 8 Nicholson Street MELBOURNE VIC 3002 Tel: (03) 9637 8890 Fax: (03) 9637 8880 ryan.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au Minister for Energy and Resources The Honourable Nicholas Kotsiras MLA Level 16, 121 Exhibition Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 Tel: (03) 9938 5963 Fax: (03) 9938 5962 nicholas.kotsiras@parliament.vic.gov.au
Minister for Primary Industries* The Honourable Katrina Hodgkinson MP Level 30 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9228 5210 Fax: (02) 9228 5969 office@hodgkinson.minister.nsw.gov.au Minister for Environment and Heritage The Honourable Robyn Parker MP Level 32 Governor Macquarie Tower 1 Farrer Place SYDNEY NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9228 5253 Fax: (02) 9228 5763 office@parker.minister.nsw.gov.au ** Climate Change issues now fall under the responsibility of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. *Animal welfare Ministers QUEENSLAND: QLD Premier The Honourable Campbell Newman MP PO Box 15185 CITY EAST QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7000 Fax: (07) 3220 6222 thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au Minister for Natural Resources and Mines The Honourable Andrew Cripps MP PO Box 15216 CITY EAST QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7360 Fax: (07) 3220 6232 nrm@ministerial.qld.gov.au Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry* The Honourable John McVeigh MP GPO Box 46 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Tel: (07) 3719 7560 Fax: (07) 3220 6230 daff@ministerial.qld.gov.au Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection The Honourable Andrew Powell MP GPO Box 2454 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Tel: (07) 3719 7330 Fax: (07) 3220 6231 environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au WESTERN AUSTRALIA: WA Premier The Honourable Colin Barnett MLA 1 Parliament Place WEST PERTH WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 5000 Fax: (08) 6552 5001 wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au Minister for Agriculture and Food The Honourable Ken Baston MLC 4th Floor, London House 216 St George’s Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Tel: (08) 6552 5400 Fax: (08) 6552 5401 Minister.Baston@dpc.wa.gov.au
Minister for Forestry / Water The Honourable Terry Redman MLA 9th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 6700 Fax: (08) 6552 6701 Minister.Redman@dpc.wa.gov.au Minister for Environment and Heritage The Honourable Albert Jacob MLA 12th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 5800 Fax: (08) 6552 5801 Minister.Jacob@dpc.wa.gov.au Minister for Mines and Petroleum The Honourable Bill Marmion MLA 29th Floor, Allendale Square 77 St Georges Terrace PERTH WA 6000 Tel: (08) 6552 6800 Fax: (08) 6552 6801 Minister.Marmion@dpc.wa.gov.au Minister for Fisheries The Honourable Troy Buswell MLA 13th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 6400 Fax: (08) 6552 6401 Minister.Buswell@dpc.wa.gov.au Minister for Local Government* The Honourable Tony Simpson MLA 8th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 6600 Fax: (08) 6552 6601 Minister.Simpson@dpc.wa.gov.au SOUTH AUSTRALIA***: SA Premier The Honourable Jay Weatherill MP GPO Box 2343 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8463 3166 Fax: (08) 8463 3168 cheltenham@parliament.sa.gov.au Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries*, Minister for Forests The Honourable Gail Gago MLC GPO Box 1671 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8303 2926 Fax: (08) 8303 2533 minister.gago@sa.gov.au Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation The Honourable Ian Hunter MLC GPO Box 1047 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8463 5680 Fax: (08) 8463 5681 minister.hunter@sa.gov.au NORTHERN TERRITORY: NT Chief Minister The Honourable Adam Giles MLA GPO Box 3146 DARWIN NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8928 6500 Fax: (08) 8928 6621 Chief.Minister@nt.gov.au
Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries The Honourable Willem Westra van Holthe MLA GPO Box 3146 DARWIN NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8928 6540 Fax: (08) 8928 6644 Minister.Westravanholthe@nt.gov.au Minister for Lands, Planning and the Environment The Honourable Peter Chandler MLA GPO Box 3146 DARWIN NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8928 6553 Fax: (08) 8928 6632 Minister.Chandler@nt.gov.au Minister for Parks and Wildlife The Honourable Bess Price MLA GPO Box 3146 DARWIN NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8928 6587 Fax: (08) 8928 6594 Bess.Price@nt.gov.au Minister for Local Government* The Honourable David Tollner MLA GPO Box 3146 Darwin NT 0801 Telephone: (08) 8999 7540 Facsimile: (08) 8928 6613 Minister.Tollner@nt.gov.au TASMANIA***: TAS Premier The Honourable Lara Giddings, MP 11th Floor, Executive Building 15 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6233 3464 fax: (03) 6234 1572 lara.giddings@parliament.tas.gov.au Minister for Primary Industries and Water The Honourable Bryan Green, MP 10th Floor, Executive Building 15 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6233 6454 Fax: (03) 6233 2272 bryan.green@parliament.tas.gov.au Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage* The Honourable Brian Wightman, MP 10th Floor, Ministerial Office 10 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6233 9237 Fax: (03) 6223 7610 brian.wightman@parliament.tas.gov.au ACT: ACT Chief Minister The Honourable Katy Gallagher, MLA GPO Box 1020 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Phone: (02) 6205 0840 Fax: (02) 6205 3030 gallagher@act.gov.au Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development The Honourable Simon Corbell, MLA GPO Box 1020 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Phone: (02) 6205 0000 Fax: (02) 6205 0535 corbell@act.gov.au
Details accurate as of 21 February, 2014 * Animal welfare Ministers. ** Climate Change issues now fall under the responsibility of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. *** Note: SA and Tasmanian state elections due in March 2014
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Wildlife Land Trust After a fantastic start to 2014 the Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) is poised to pass the 250 Australian sanctuary milestone – so if you or someone you know owns a block of wildlife-friendly land, now is the time to get involved! Among the network’s recent additions is Jens and Ute’s Refuge, a 1 hectare property situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Despite having a relatively modest size, the sanctuary provides shelter and food for a wealth of native wildlife such as cockatoos, koalas, echidnas, kookaburras, bandicoots, and wallabies. And with the recent discovery of a new antechinus species in the region, the bushland on Jen’s and Ute’s Refuge may be even more critical than previously thought. Our native species need all the help they can get to survive; the more private land dedicated to conservation the better. In other news, the WLT is proud to be a sponsor of the Australian Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference, to be held in Hobart from May 2730. HSI and WLT Program Manager Evan Quartermain will be delivering the keynote address (New Directions: Accommodating Change) and taking the opportunity to visit sanctuary owners around Tasmania while there. To register for the information-packed biennial event, visit www.awrchobart2014.org.
ildlife Land W Trust Newsletter:
Spotted-tail quoll - Jim Evans
Glossy black cockatoos - Jens Sohnrey
Habitat Protection The Federal Government’s disappointing and unprecedented delisting of two HSI nominated Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) late last year signalled the start of what could be a difficult time for scientifically based landscape-scale habitat protection in Australia. However, our identification and justification of those areas in most need of assistance continues despite the political atmosphere, and a recent success lies in the Critically Endangered listing of ‘Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion’. The core of the community is situated around Bega, NSW, with the main threats to its survival being weed invasion, inappropriate fire and grazing regimes, land clearing (particularly for rural residential development), and other impacts associated with fragmentation 10
The latest edition of Wildlife Lands has taken on a new look, and is now open to free subscriptions! Call 1800 333 737 or email wlt@hsi.org.au with your name and address to receive the latest and future copies of the magazine free of charge – it features plenty of local and international news on wildlife and habitat protection. Head to www.wildlifelandtrust.org.au to learn more.
of remnant patches. Best estimates indicate that these combined impacts have led to less than 15% of the woodlands remaining, and worryingly only 5% of what’s left is situated within reserves – a key factor in the Critically Endangered classification. Among threatened species that the community is known to provide habitat are spotted-tail quolls, eastern pygmy possums, glossy black cockatoos, koalas, and grey-headed flying foxes. Resulting from an HSI nomination in 2010, the community’s new status under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act represents the best chance for long-term survival in the face of ongoing threats, not only for the Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion, but the huge variety of species that call the community home.
Volume 20 • Issue 1 • March 2014
HSI’s Be Cruelty Free Campaign takes the world by storm! HSI’s Be Cruelty-Free campaign is the largest campaign to end cosmetics testing on animals worldwide and we have had some amazing results over the past year. In June last year our Indian office secured a commitment from the Indian Government to end cosmetic testing on animals and it came into force on January the 24th of this year! The mandatory use of modern nonanimal tests is now the national standard in India, replacing invasive tests on live rabbits and mice. India is also considering a ban on the import of cosmetics that have been tested on animals in other countries. HSI’s campaign then targeted China where cosmetics animal testing has been required by law. Be Cruelty-Free China launched in June 2013 and HSI’s team worked diligently with Chinese policymakers and regulators. By the end of the year we were delighted to announce that China’s Food & Drug Administration (CFDA) plans to phase out its requirement for animal tests for “nonspecial use cosmetics” such as shampoo
or perfume, for products made in China. This is a major victory for animals given that an estimated 300,000 rabbits, mice and other animals may be subject to cosmetics testing annually in China alone. Meanwhile, in Australia, although little or no cosmetics animal testing is currently licensed there is no legal ban in place. Also products tested on animals overseas are still sold in shops throughout the country. HSI will continue to campaign for a national t e s t i n g and sales ban to turn Australia into a cruelty-free zone. Ricky Gervais © Ray Burmiston
ACTION REQUIRED • Only use products that aren’t tested on animals – Look for the Leaping Bunny guide to ensure its validity and visit our website to see which companies comply with Choose Cruelty Free’s non-animal testing criteria. • Write or email the Australian Government stating that Australia must follow the European Union’s lead and ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals, and ban the sale of any cosmetics with ingredients newly animal-tested in other countries. While few, or no, cosmetics animal testing is currently licensed in Australia, there’s still no legal ban preventing such testing in the future, and products tested overseas are sold widely here. Write to: The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Federal Minister for Health. PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. Email: peter.dutton.mp@aph.gov.au Please send copies of any replies to us.
A sk the Minister to support wildlife programs in Indonesia! Our near neighbours in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and all the other wildlife rich countries in South East Asia, find themselves in a pitch battle against those that wantonly destroy wildlife and habitats for purely private profit. So serious is the global loss of wild species that many scientists are now suggesting that the Earth may have entered the sixth great animal and plant extinction wave. However, at present the Australian Government has no programs specifically directed at protecting wildlife in the immediate region. The orangutans, elephants, tigers and rhinos in South East Asia need our help now!
ACTION REQUIRED Write to Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2600 or by e-mail to greg.hunt.mp@ environment.gov.au asking that he help wildlife conservation in Indonesia, Vietnam and other priority countries by matching dollar for dollar some of the projects funded by HSI in the region. Please send copies of any replies to us.
Orangutans © shutterstock com - Stanislav Fosenbauer
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Lemur
conservation program
We would like to thank all of HSI’s wonderful supporters for responding so generously to our last appeal in 2013 for resources to help protect the world’s lemurs.
Ring-tailed lemurs © shutterstock com - Gil K.
The lemurs of Madagascar are the most endangered group of mammals in the world. They are some of the most beautiful animals on Earth, existing only in Madagascar, and are the single highest primate conservation priority on the planet. With 91% of all lemurs threatened with extinction (94 of 103 species!) - they are in serious crisis and it is thought we only have a few years to secure the future of these much loved primates. Your compassionate response has enabled HSI to commit $100,000 to the long-term survival of these amazing creatures. We are now a major partner, working with Conservation International, to implement an intensive three-year recovery program, which includes the $600,000 “Lemur Action Fund: A Rapid Response Fund for Lemur Conservation”. The key to the success of this program, now well into its first year, is the rapid turnaround time for funding small and urgent conservation initiatives (between $1000 and $5000), often allocated within a matter of days, helping a particular lemur protection problem before it escalates. These front line actions are now being rolled out all over Madagascar – thanks to you!
Many thanks to
Humane Society International would like to thank DMC for their donated services.
BIO DISTRIBUTORS BIO-DYNAMIC & ORGANIC WHOLESALERS OF TASMANIA who sponsored the printing of this newsletter PO Box 12, Sheffield, Tasmania 7306 Phone/Fax (03) 6491 1439 Email@biodistributors.com.au
T: 03 9427 7267 F: 03 9427 7370 E: bmc@directmail.com.au
www.biodistributors.com.au
www.directmail.com.au
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