Qld: Animal welfare groups welcome hunting ban

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2006
Qld: Animal welfare groups welcome hunting ban

BRISBANE, Aug 8 AAP - Animal welfare groups say a permanent ban on quail and duck hunting
in Queensland is a victory over cruelty.

The government last year effectively ended the hunting by not remaking the duck and
quail conservation plan when it expired.

The plan had allowed duck and quail hunting in some circumstances.

But Environment Minister Desley Boyle said today new laws would soon make it impossible
for any government to allow hunting of the birds without first passing a law.

"This is terrific news," said RSPCA Queensland chief executive Mark Townend.

"It's not just a victory for animal welfare and conservation, it also proves that ordinary
Queenslanders can make their feelings known and that the government will listen."

Birds Queensland, the Queensland Conservation Council, Animal Liberation Queensland,
the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and RSPCA Queensland have been lobbying
the government to permanently ban duck and quail hunting for more than a year.

The welfare groups said more than 5,000 postcards and letters had been sent to the
government calling for the total ban and only 50 against.

"This was never political," said Birds Queensland vice-president Mike West.

"This was an expression of outrage from people who didn't like to see any animal being
hurt unnecessarily and believed in the conservation of our native wild life."

Nationals MPs have previously attacked the ban in parliament.

But Ms Boyle said it was time for the Liberals to state their policy on the ban.

AAP rad/jt/sd

KEYWORD: QUAIL NIGHTLEAD

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