DUCK AND QUAIL HUNTING IN LINE OF FIRE

Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr will re-introduce legislation to put duck and quail hunting where it belongs – in the past.

Ms Nelson-Carr said legislation banning the sport was introduced in the Queensland Parliament by previous Environment Minister Desley Boyle but had lapsed because it was not passed before the election.

“I’m re-introducing this legislation because the State Government’s decision to ban this barbaric practice resulted in more than 5000 submissions from people congratulating us and fewer than 50 supporting hunting,” she said.

“That is a clear indication Queenslanders no longer think it is acceptable to shoot duck and quail for fun.”

The RSPCA has said as many as 90 per cent of ducks shot suffered a cruel, slow death.

“Our native birds deserve better protection than this,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

Duck and quail hunting was previously allowed in Queensland under the Nature Conservation (Duck and Quail) Conservation Plan 1995 until its expiry in September 2005.

“What we intend to do is to go a step further and enshrine the ban in the Nature Conservation Act 1992,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“That means that any future government wanting to allow this cruel sport will first have to submit to the scrutiny of the Parliament and the community.”

Other forms of hunting where animal welfare is not a concern, for example, destroying feral species such as pigs and deer, are still legal in Queensland.

Removing feral animals can help the environment and, as a stationary target, the likelihood of a direct kill and the ability to immediately retrieve the animal is high.

The Bill will be introduced in Parliament during the 10-12 October sitting.

Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Andie Gatti 3336 8002