Slaughter of turtle and dugong will not cease until our governments recognise their responsibilities. Their neglect to monitor the Native Title Act legislation, where indigenous people are allowed to hunt these helpless creatures TRADITIONALLY, is the main problem. They will tell you that TUMRA, (Traditional Uses of Marine Resources), a government initative costing the taxpayer millions, is handling the problem. The fact of the matter is that TUMRA only applies to Marine Park areas, it does not recognise the real maning of TRADITIONAL, and the indigenous are not obliged to comply. It is a toothless costly exercise and the creatures are continuing to be wiped out with modern day technological hunting methodoligies. We need governments with the guts to take on indigenous issues and racial segregation.
When we have a hypocritical gutless Federal government it is perfectly natural for these barbaric natives to kill as many helpless turtle and dugong as they can and by the most modern means available. Why not? Although they are breaking the law nothing happens to them. Today the communities which are costing you, the tax payer billions are riddled with drugs and alcohol, all tied in with this slaughter. Furthermore, the remote North is a haven for Ferals that thrive on anything illegal, and the governments are not seriously interested. TIME FOR A CHANGE! Remember, a vote for the Greens is a vote for continued corruption.
There's no doubt change is required and that not enough is currently being done to ensure the long term survival of the dugong. The only question is exactly what needs to be done and where.
A widespread moratorium should be pursued, and pursued especially strongly south of Cooktown. An enforced moratorium (a ban) has yet to be shown to be the best option and may generate a fight about native title rights that could distract from the main game of dugong protection.
The LNP have, so far, not agreed to place a moratorium on on hunting, only to work with Indigenous communities on establishing one. This is good, but who will do it? How much will they allocate? In what timeframe?
The ALP has a current plan of action, but it needs muscle and teeth. It needs to answer those same questions better than it currently has.
Remember, fishing nets, boats, habitat loss and other urban pressures have brought us to this crisis, not Indigenous hunting. These issues also need strong policy responses if we are to succeed.
Slaughter of turtle and dugong will not cease until our governments recognise their responsibilities. Their neglect to monitor the Native Title Act legislation, where indigenous people are allowed to hunt these helpless creatures TRADITIONALLY, is the main problem. They will tell you that TUMRA, (Traditional Uses of Marine Resources), a government initative costing the taxpayer millions, is handling the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe fact of the matter is that TUMRA only applies to Marine Park areas, it does not recognise the real maning of TRADITIONAL, and the indigenous are not obliged to comply. It is a toothless costly exercise and the creatures are continuing to be wiped out with modern day technological hunting methodoligies.
We need governments with the guts to take on indigenous issues and racial segregation.
When we have a hypocritical gutless Federal government it is perfectly natural for these barbaric natives to kill as many helpless turtle and dugong as they can and by the most modern means available. Why not? Although they are breaking the law nothing happens to them. Today the communities which are costing you, the tax payer billions are riddled with drugs and alcohol, all tied in with this slaughter. Furthermore, the remote North is a haven for Ferals that thrive on anything illegal, and the governments are not seriously interested. TIME FOR A CHANGE! Remember, a vote for the Greens is a vote for continued corruption.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt change is required and that not enough is currently being done to ensure the long term survival of the dugong. The only question is exactly what needs to be done and where.
ReplyDeleteA widespread moratorium should be pursued, and pursued especially strongly south of Cooktown. An enforced moratorium (a ban) has yet to be shown to be the best option and may generate a fight about native title rights that could distract from the main game of dugong protection.
The LNP have, so far, not agreed to place a moratorium on on hunting, only to work with Indigenous communities on establishing one. This is good, but who will do it? How much will they allocate? In what timeframe?
The ALP has a current plan of action, but it needs muscle and teeth. It needs to answer those same questions better than it currently has.
Remember, fishing nets, boats, habitat loss and other urban pressures have brought us to this crisis, not Indigenous hunting. These issues also need strong policy responses if we are to succeed.
Steve Ryan
CAFNEC