Aussie Finch Forum

As general information for the group as a whole we have recently been "told" that we are about to get a 4 tiered permit system where the categories will be decided on a Risk Basis. Decided by Wildlife Tasmania who have shown a real "affinity" for their fair application of avicultural knowledge to such matters - yes, sarcasm!! No, we've not been told what species this effects but given the banned list that was recently foisted upon us we're all a tad nervous. Parrot jocks are fair enraged!!!

One of their favorite sources of information is the Ferals.org website where all exotic species are rated according to their pest potential in Australia. Worth a read by any serious finch keeper for shock value alone. For example Violet-ears are rated in the extreme pest category from memory. You'll also see what import syndicates are up against before they even get to source their finches.

As there has been much debate about the Bomford Model (what this risk stuff is based upon) on this forum and unless we can prevent it happening you'll see it in action here - given it's Climatic component be very scared if some bright spark proposes it over there on the Mainland.

We hope to get an online petition going in the near future and hope that Mainlanders here will support our push for a sane "normal" permit system just like you have!!! Well, you know what I mean - anything that isn't risk based!!
Thanks.

Don't forget to tell people to print and post the petition, after getting their local birdos to sign it. As unsigned online petitions have much less weight than signed paper petitions. Due to you can't prove they signed them.
LML

Thanks for that.
Suspect they'll use Change.org but shall pass it on.

Thanks yet again.

Something we all need to be concerned about because if they pass this in one state, they will have a precedent which will make it easier for the powers that be when they decide to implement the same changes in NSW or Vic...or anywhere else on the mainland, as well as a model on how to quash any opposition.

Interesting that they have chosen Tasmania to start this off, an isolated state with a small population. Even though the ACT's population is actually smaller than Tasmania's, I guess that would be too close to home and no doubt there would be plenty in the ACT who would have some good ideas on how to defeat the bureaucratic machine.

If this gets off the ground in Tasmania it might be the first policy that crosses borders and works Australia wide.

Getting some people to sign a petition can be logistically difficult. Is it possible for a sample letter be posted for us to HANDWRITE and send in to protest?
That would give me a basis to use when penning a response.

There are some of us (still going strong!) who remember the great unifying Vertebrate Pest Act campaign. Maybe it's time to dust off the old folder. After all, they are probably using the same information used in 1983! The only difference is a new generation of bureaucrats with little if any knowledge of aviculture.

Cheers
Tom

By the way, I still have the campaign info from way back then. No wonder I have no room in my house!!