Quarantine Facility

[Craig52]

Received Finch News today, NFSA reports "The Federal Government is in the process of building a new single quarantine facility for all species in Victoria.The official opening is 2015.The bird facility will open in 2018 and will accommodate all ranges of domestic birds and encourage imports whose current limitations are predispose smuggling".

I hope this goes ahead but who is going to pay for it. Craig

[Tiaris]

User pays is a fairly widespread principle in bureaucracy these days.

[mattymeischke]

Hi Craig,
I know I'm a pessimist but

... all ranges of domestic birds

suggests to me poultry and pigeons. I believe that zebs, canaries, bengos and budgies also qualify as 'domestic birds', but am pretty sure that most of the birds that interest us are considered 'wildlife' rather than 'domestic birds' in the eyes of the law.

I fear that

imports whose current limitations are predispose smuggling

is bureaucratic code for 'pigeons' after the avian paramyxovirus outbreak we had recently, which was ascribed to illegally imported pigeons.

As has been said elsewhere, we (finchos) are at the small end of the scale when you consider the parrots, poultry and pigeon people.
These are a serious, big-money business for some people, and the money and effort that goes into lobbying for their importation makes us seem like rather minor players.

Having said that, I hope I am completely wrong, and after a vigourous lobbying campaign from AFF overturns the ban at last, I would like some paradise whydahs, some red cardinals and some Peale's parroties (please?).

mm.

[Myzomela]

So, Matty, how many Englishmen do you know who breed paradise whydahs??

You need
- "Risk Assessment" done on the species of interest (takes years to achieve)
- breeders of the species in the countries from which you are allowed to import ie captive bred from approved countries
-the perseverance of a bulldog
-political clout/pressure for our species of interest to get a look-in
- a "lotto-funded" bank balance
- capable, honest people both in country of export and here in quarantine
- a long-term view of the project- 10 yrs +

So who is still keen?

[Craig52]

G'day Matty,let's hope that your last paragraph comes true but in saying that 2018 is a long way away for me so all you young finchos might get to have something that i've only seen in books. Cheers Craig

[finchbreeder]

Gina Rinehart needs a hobby.
LML

[Trilobite]

Gina has a hobby, it is destroying approx. 50000ha of prime black throat territory in central western Qld - google the EIS and see if you think she can offset that loss.

[SamDavis]

... is bureaucratic code for 'pigeons' after the avian paramyxovirus outbreak we had recently, which was ascribed to illegally imported pigeons.

Interesting thought. Maybe someone should look to illegally import diseased paradise whydahs, cardinals, etc. then they too will become a priority for legal import.

[arthur]

By the way, and not really off topic . .

Whatever happened to 'Son of NEBRS' and all of its wondrous recommendations

We in Qld, can't even access softbills that are legally held in every other Australian state, so I refuse to get excited about a quarantine station that MIGHT kick off in 2018 and MIGHT cater for exotic finches and softbills that MIGHT be available overseas

Negative?? Cynical?? . . Moi??



'Picture of Cow jumping over Moon' . . (moon obscured)

[elferoz777]

so all you young finchos might get to have something that i've only seen in books. Cheers Craig

Bull finches from europe!