IN regards to the article Join the rescue team, Dan (Gannawarra Times, March 21), the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is so out of touch with reality regarding everyday people.
It would be a miracle if he did actually make an attempt to visit wetlands where he sanctions and supports the recreational shooting of native waterbird species.
For the last several years, I have asked Mr Andrews to come to Kerang on a duck (hunting) opening morning to see the bloodshed he supports caused to native waterbird species.
I have also asked him to see the damage caused to Aboriginal middens, the cutting down of scar trees for firewood, the rubbish, bottles, unburied toilet paper and shells left by duck shooters. Yet he remains safely cocooned behind the hallowed mahogany doors in Spring Street.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell is quite correct in stating: “Shooters walked around illegally with unbroken guns while they harassed and threatened rescuers”.
This goes on year after year.
Furthermore, I too saw the devastation of smashed nests and eggs kicked callously apart by duck shooters then used as hides by them to wound and kill birds. Again and again, this occurs yet this disgusting behaviour is allowed to continue on these beautiful RAMSAR-listed wetlands.
As Ms Purcell states, it is indeed “time for the decision-makers to witness the carnage for themselves”.
Why should our tax dollars go into this reprehensible activity? Why don’t those who allow the shooting of native bird species see for themselves the carnage duck shooters create to our beautiful wetlands?
Nationals MP Danny O’Brien is complaining that the government should be “condemned” for it’s announcements around duck hunting.
What about the millions of birds soon to be condemned by duck shooters, thousands such as the Pink Eared Duck (Australia’s smallest duck) used for target practice only then left wounded or dead on the wetlands?
Naturally, The Nationals support this abhorrent activity and like Mr Andrews seem incapable of (understanding) the millions of dollars wetlands based tourism could bring to towns such as Kerang and Boort instead of this yearly slaughter on waterbirds.
The day I ever see Mr Andrews attend an opening is the day I will personally show him the carnage, vandalism and cruelty he creates in supporting duck shooting.
Kate Bossence
Kerang
