[Greens-Media] Politics costing endangered species

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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Tues 1 April 08


Politics costing endangered species 

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey today expressed her deep concern that the
politics of the issue of the kangaroos on the Lawson Defence site has
overtaken good science.

"Let's go back to first base: In May last year we were told that as a
matter of urgency, the captive kangaroos reproduced beyond sustainable
numbers, threatening an endangered grassland and its dependent species,"
said Dr Foskey today. 

"That was an election year, so the decision was deferred, worsening the
situation for kangaroos, grasslands and the endangered species."

"So the situation this year is even more urgent."

"These are difficult issues, but they cannot be shirked. It seems to me
that Defence is putting off the hard decisions that a responsible land
manager must make." 

"And the reported refusal of the Chief Minister to contact his federal
colleague to put the ACT's case is unhelpful, to say the least."

"The primary concern must be protection of the grasslands and the
endangered species because nothing returns from extinction."

"The endangered species at Lawson apparently don't have the emotional
pulling power of the fortunately abundant Eastern Grey kangaroo, but
they are part of the ecological fabric."

"While a research project looking at the ecological and animal welfare
consequences of translocation of kangaroos from Lawson would be useful
if this horrendous situation arises again, funding for the project must
not come at the expense of protecting endangered species on Defence
land."

"When the Commissioner for the Environment's report first appeared, I
commented on the paucity of information behind her dismissal of the
translocation option. That lack of scientific rigour has come back to
bite the ACT Government."

"Since then I have sought detailed information about the impacts of
translocation and have been surprised that there is no systematic
scientific data."

"All the evidence to date suggests that it is not a humane or effective
solution to the problem, although Defence apparently finds it
politically expedient."

"If it is to go ahead, I urge Defence to restrict the scientific
translocation exercise to about 100 animals and proceed with the cull
immediately in order to protect the grasslands.  The research must be
pursued with scientific rigour and documented, because if Defence
continues to manage its land so poorly, it will be faced with the same
situation again - perhaps at Majura in the very near future" said Dr
Foskey.



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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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