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Thanks to your incredible support we finally had our day* challenging
the 10 year permit for lethal shark control issued by the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority.
173 baited drum lines are deployed in the Great Barrier Reef catching
sharks and other marine wildlife. If one of 19 species of sharks on the
target list is still alive when discovered they are shot.
Most pose little to no threat and shark expert Dr William Robbins said
the risk of an attack, compared to the millions of hours people use
the beach, was extremely low.
Even the Queensland Government’s own expert witness admitted that
there would no discernible increase in unprovoked shark bite and
fatality risk if the Government stopped killing sharks tomorrow.
Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Dr Darryl McPhee, also
agreed that he had never advocated for lethal shark control programs
in advice to the WA and NSW Governments, and if Queensland was
designing its program today he would not advocate for lethal control.
The Queensland Shark Control Program has been unchanged since the
1960s, despite tremendous advances made in alternatives to lethal
shark control and much better understanding of the vital role sharks
play in the delicate ecology of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
HSI is grateful to the AAT for hearing the case and for giving
lethal control the scientific and legal scrutiny it deserves.
We are also thankful for the brilliant legal representation we
had from the Environmental Defenders Office of New South
Wales and barristers Saul Holt QC and Natasha Hammond.
We look forward to bringing you the outcomes of the
case in the coming months.
* three of them actually: 30 January to 1 February
in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Brisbane
newsletterVOLUME 25 • ISSUE 1 • MARCH 2019
Sharks in court over being caught
Government’s expert wouldn’t suggest lethal control
Millions of hours spent on beaches but low, low risk of attack
If a shark survives they kill it
NO KILLING NO CULLING
We need your help in convincing the Queensland Government to stop the cull. visit our Take Action page at: hsi.org.au (and please send us any replies)
Your support has helped us win a ban on animal-testing for cosmetics in Austral ia .
This is a major victory, thank you.
2 Source: European BREF (data on virgin fibre paper). Carbon footprint data audited by the Carbon Neutral Company. Results are according to technical information and subject to modification.
By using ecoS tar Si lk rather than a non-recycled paper the environmental impact was reduced by: 969 kg of landfi l l • 37,800 l i tres of water • 2 , 2 2 1 kWh of electr icity • 130kg C0 2 + greenhouse gases • 1 ,575 kg of wood
Writing this newsletter hot on the heels of our court case for sharks, I’m optimistic about the year ahead—despite the many challenges being faced by animals.
Like you, I have shuddered at the heart wrenching tales of animals suffering in drought this summer and decades of environmental mismanagement resulting in horrific fish die-offs, yet I feel that policy-makers might finally be waking up to the current environmental crisis and beginning to take steps towards positive change.
The Labor Opposition has new, stronger environment laws in their election platform and we continue pushing the Morrison government to show leadership in this area.
After years of hard campaigning and negotiations the cosmetic animal test ban passed the Australian Senate in February. The bill’s passage was thanks to an agreement reached with HSI which saw the Government commit to ensuring that ALL cosmetic ingredients are captured by the ban, together with funding to support the uptake of modern non-animal test methods.
With a looming Federal election we look to all parties to do more to prevent cruelty and help save our threatened species and make this great nation better for the animals we love.
I hope you enjoy this issue’s updates on the work that you have made possible. We couldn’t fight for, and secure, these victories for animals without you.
Erica Martin, CEO, HSI
At the end of December 2018 Japan officially announced that it would leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to return to commercial whaling.
After failing to persuade conservation-minded nations in the IWC (including Australia) to allow commercial whaling, Japan has walked away— becoming a pirate whaling nation operating outside the bounds of international law.
Adding insult to injury, Japan will set out on its first openly commercial whale hunt the very day after they officially leave the IWC in July. Reports from Japan indicate they will target minke whales, Bryde’s whales and sei whales in the waters of Japan.
However, this decision does mean that Japan can no longer hunt whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary after 30th June under the guise of ‘science’. This is a move that HSI has long campaigned for—including winning a court case finding the hunt in breach of Australian law.
HSI continues to fight for the conservation of whales while pressuring Australia to remain a leader in demanding a worldwide end to commercial whaling.
A NATION CAST ADRIFT
Japan leaves the IWC to rob oceans of whales
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IN MEMORY OF DR JIM WATTS He stood up for them, we stand indebted.
Trading up for animal welfare: EU trade negotiations
HSI worked for many years with an innovative scientist, veterinarian and farmer who was trying desperately to bring an end to the cruel practice of sheep mulesing.
Mulesing is done to 75% of Australian lambs bred for wool and involves slicing off strips of wrinkled skin from lambs’ buttocks to produce stretched skin which prevents flystrike. Pain relief is not mandatory and where used has been shown to be ineffective and is only applied to the wound afterwards.
Jim Watts cared deeply about improving animal welfare for his sheep and invested in developing and breeding smooth bodied sheep which were not prone to flystrike, thereby eliminating any need for mulesing.
Jim calmly, yet determinedly, presented the evidence that his sheep were not just a viable alternative but a profitable one to an industry
extremely resistant to change and plagued by vested interests in the stud lines of wrinkly-bodied sheep.
Despite health issues, he never wavered in demonstrating that change was possible and that mulesing could be eliminated in just five years if farmers changed their genetic stud lines.
We are extremely sad to report that Jim passed away in January. We promise that we will continue to share his message and to honour him by fighting hard to relegate mulesing to the history books.
We know you are with us in wishing his family the best as we will all miss this most wonderful man: vale Jim Watts.
As the Free Trade Agreement consultations between the European Union and Australia continue, HSI is ensuring that negotiations include provisions for positive change for farm animals.
Unlike Australia, the EU has a record of including language on animal welfare in its trade deals with Chile, South Korea, Canada and Mexico. The EU explicitly acknowledges the sentience of animals and has an obligation to pay full regard to their welfare in its policymaking.
This presents a real opportunity for Australia to lift its game since farm animal standards are generally higher in the EU than in Australia.
For example, the EU has banned conventional battery cages for laying hens, while these cruel
confines are still legal here. Around nine million laying hens suffer in cages so cramped they are unable to perform important natural behaviours, including walking, perching, dust bathing or even fully stretching their wings. We also allow routine cruelties such as gestation crates, mulesing and tail-docking.
This negotiation is a chance for Australia to meet and surpass the EU benchmark. Animal welfare matters to Australians, we desperately need our policy-makers to catch up with public expectations.
For those who care deeply about wildlife there are few greater moments than when a rehabilitated animal is released back into the wild.
We were delighted to hear from our partners at the Bali Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre that they had successfully released two Leopard cats Prionailurus bengalensis (also known as Bengal cats) back into the wild.
Sadly, these beautiful felines are prized as exotic pets and are taken from the wild and sold into a miserable life in captivity. Their magnificent pelts also make them a prized target for poachers who sell their fur.
The two cats were confiscated from illegal trade in Jembrana Bali by the Bali Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and delivered to the vets and volunteers at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Just four months old, the kittens needed time to strengthen and learn the skills to survive in
the wild. Once deemed ready a suitable release site was identified at Mount Batukaru and the big day set for 10 January.
After a simple but moving ceremony at the Mount Batukaru temple to bless the animals and wish them long and healthy lives the cage doors were opened.
For one tentative moment the cats took in their new surroundings from the safety of the transport cage and then sprinted out into their new home—back in the wild where they belong.
We look forward to bringing you more stories of the animals you are helping us to save thanks to our partners at the Bali Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
Born to be wild not pets
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Leopard (Bengal) cat Prionailurus bengalensis
An astounding 64 dolphins died in 2017 in a fishery off southern Australia and another 47 dolphins were killed between January and September 2018.
When dolphins are trapped in nets they drown slowly and losing individuals from pods can be significant.
Fisheries management is simply not doing enough to deal with this ongoing problem and we are asking
for your help to eliminate nets from areas which are identified as hotspots for dolphin deaths.
Tasmanian Senator and Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Richard Colbeck, can save the dolphins. Please send him a letter or go to our Take Action page on hsi.org.au and follow the simple steps.
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The Waved (Galapagos) albatross population has declined over the past decade due to deaths on longline fishing hooks and in fishing nets. There are just two island breeding populations and one is almost extinct.
Since 2011 we have been in Ecuador and Peru trying to reduce the impact of fishing on these incredible birds. HSI’s seabird expert, Nigel Brothers, has been providing Ecuadorean fishers with hands-on training in solutions that avoid catching and killing seabirds.
Recognising that the baited lines do not sink quickly enough to evade the birds’ reach. Nigel has designed a fast-setting system along with free 60g weights for fishers to use on their lines. Being easy-to-use and cheap means that uptake among the fishers has been strong and an increasing number are using this simple solution every year.
Our work will continue with the fishers of Ecuador until everyone is using simple devices that are proven to save the lives of seabirds.
Saving albatross in Ecuador
Minister must ban nets, stop slow deaths
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With a massive 3,000 responses to our 2018 survey, I cannot thank you enough for confirming the animal welfare and conservation issues that are most important to you.
We happily note that you strongly support the issues we are currently focused on. And we welcome the thoughtful comments that many respondents included—these have been carefully collated.
Your prime issue was the push for stronger penalties for animal cruelty and I can assure you HSI will keep pressuring governments accordingly.
You were also passionate about protecting koalas from land clearing and ensuring our wildlife has the habitat needed to thrive.
A number said that while not supporting mulesing, you also know that flystrike causes much suffering to sheep. Our campaign against mulesing promotes switching to a different type of sheep, one with a smooth body rather a wrinkly one. This avoids the need for mulesing but ensures farmers have a top quality wool. This solution exists and is a win for animal welfare and farmers.
We also learned from your comments that you want us to fight against puppy mills. We will investigate how we can have an impact on this cruel industry.
Thank you so much for caring and for raising your voice for the animals, Erica Martin, CEO.
How you help keep us focussed + together
We were shocked to learn that Table Tennis Australia accepted sponsorship from the Australian Donkey Industry Association last year.
Players said the Association was preventing them from publicly expressing their disgust over this sponsorship.
The Australian Donkey Industry Association is trying to promote the development for Australian donkey products including the dubious ‘traditional medicine’ ejiao which is made from donkey-hide gelatin.
Worringly, Australian athletes are being stopped from airing their genuine concerns related to this industry’s
documented and flagrant abuse of animal welfare.
Last year an HSI investigative report named Australia as the 8th biggest importer of ejiao with $4m+ of the product entering the country in 2018. We also revealed the deplorable conditions and slaughtering practices faced by donkeys to supply the trade.
There are a wealth of companies not linked to cruel and unsustainable products that could sponsor Table Tennis Australia’s incredible atheletes.
UGLY TRADE SPONSORS SPORT Atheletes warned to stay silent
Happily, we can confirm that the sponsorship will not be renewed this year.
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Not dwindling, decimated
The giraffe population has fallen by around 40% since 1990, with fewer than 100,000 now living in the wild. That is less than Africa’s elephant herds.
Worringly, Humane Society International, USA, has released a report on giraffe products for sale across the country: America imported almost 40,000 giraffe parts in the past decade— equivalent to about 4,000 animals.
The grisly range included giraffe hide boots and rugs, speciality knives made from their bones, full-size taxi–dermied giraffes and even their skins on Bible covers.
We are committed to helping stop an insidious culling of such a gentle species. Importantly, we will draw attention and demand greater protection for them at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Sri Lanka in June.
Please send me information about leaving a bequest to HSI.
TITLE: FIRST NAME: LAST NAME:
ADDRESS:
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EMAIL:
Leave a bequest to HSI and you’ll leave a lasting impression. By naming HSI in your Will you’ll strengthen our capabilities and show your commitment to protecting animals.
How can I help them when I no longer share their world?
Please mail to: Humane Society International, PO Box 439, Avalon NSW 2107.
600th approaches
Proudly, Wildlife Lands Trust is nearing welcoming our 600th member. And remarkably, they protect more than 65,000 hectares of privately owned precious native animal habitat.
One extremely popular program of the Wildlife Lands Trust is our Sanctuaries You Can Stay program. Delight in an eco-friendly Australian vacation by browsing the many options on our website at wildlifelandtrust.org.au.
From Mallyons on the Murray with its sweeping bends of the magnificent river, to Cherry Top Farm Stay in Tasmania and a guided farm walk. You will luxuriate in the freshest country air and enjoy foraging for food.
Want to buy your own haven? Visit our website for Sanctuaries for Sale or to learn about our free and inclusive network: wildlifelandtrust.org.au or call us on 1800 333 737.
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Federal Prime Minister The Hon Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister of Australia PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7700 Fax: (02) 6273 4100 To contact the Prime Minister please go to www.pm.gov.au and use the 'Contact the Prime Minister' facility
Minister for the Environment The Hon Melissa Price MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7920 Fax: (02) 6273 7330 To contact the minister go to: onlineservices.environment.gov.au/ contact-your-minister
Minister for Agriculture The Hon David Littleproud MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7630 [email protected]
Minister for Foreign Affairs The Honourable Marise Payne MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 7500 Fax: (02) 6273 4112 [email protected]
Leader of the Opposition The Honourable Bill Shorten MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 4022 Fax: (02) 6277 8562 [email protected]
Leader of the Australian Greens Senator Richard Di Natale PO Box 6100 Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Tel: (02) 6277 3170 Fax: (02) 62773185 [email protected]
Victoria
Vic Premier The Honourable Daniel Andrews MP Level 1, 1 Treasury Place Melbourne VIC 3002 Tel: (03) 9651 5000 Fax: (03) 9651 5054 [email protected]
Minister for Agriculture The Honourable Jaclyn Symes MP Level 20,1 Spring Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel: (03) 8392 6000 Fax: (03) 5333 3109 [email protected]
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio MP Level 17, 8 Nicholson Street Melbourne VIC 3002 Tel: (03) 9637 9504 Fax: (03) 9637 7580 lily.d'[email protected]
New South Wales
NSW Premier The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, MP GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001 Tel: (02) 9228 5239 Fax: (02) 9228 3935 To contact the Premier visit www.nsw.gov.au and use the ‘Contact the Premier’ facility
Minister for Primary Industries The Honourable Niall Blair*, MLC Parliament House Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (02) 9230 2467 Fax: (02) 9230 2997 To contact the Minister for Primary Industries visit www.nsw.gov.au and use the ‘Contact NSW Ministers’ facility
Minister for Environment and Heritage The Honourable Gabrielle Upton, MP GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001 Tel: (02) 8574 6107 Fax: (02) 9339 5546 To contact the Minister for Environment and Heritage visit www.nsw.gov.au and use the ‘Contact NSW Ministers’ facility
Queensland
QLD Premier The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP PO Box 15185 City East QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7000 [email protected]
Minister for Agriculture Industry and Fisheries The Honourable Mark Furner MP PO Box 15009 City East QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7420 [email protected]
Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP GPO Box 15216 City East QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7140 [email protected]
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham MP PO Box 15216 City East QLD 4002 Tel: (07) 3719 7360 [email protected]
Western Australia
WA Premier The Honourable Mark McGowan, MLA 1 Parliament Place West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 5000 Fax: (08) 6552 5001 [email protected] or [email protected]
Minister for Agriculture and Food The Hon. Alannah MacTiernan MLC 11th Floor, Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 Tel: +61 (0)8 6552 6200 Fax: +61 (0)8 6552 6201 [email protected]
Minister for Forestry/Water The Honourable David Joseph Kelly MLA 8th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 6100 Fax: (08) 6552 6101 [email protected]
Minister for the Environment The Hon. Stephen N Dawson, MLA 12th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552 5800 Fax: (08) 6552 5801 [email protected]
Minister for Mines and Petroleum The Hon. William Joseph Johnston, MLA 9th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock Street West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (08) 6552-6700 Fax: (08) 6552-6701 [email protected]
South Australia
SA Premier The Honourable Steven Marshall GPO Box 2343 Adelaide SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8463 3166 Fax: (08) 8463 3168 [email protected]
Minister for Environment and Water The Honourable David Speirs GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8204 1910 [email protected]
Minister for Energy and Mining The Honourable Dan van Holst Pellekaan GPO Box 947 Adelaide SA 5001 Tel: (08) 8429 2409 [email protected]
Northern Territory
NT Chief Minister Hon Michael Patrick Francis Gunner MLA GPO Box 3146 Darwin NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8936 5500 Fax: (08) 8936 5576 [email protected]
Minister for Primary Industry and Resources The Honourable Kenneth Edward Vowles MLA* GPO Box 3146 Darwin NT 0801 Tel: 08) 8936 5680 Fax: (08) 8936 5509 [email protected]
Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change The Honourable Eva Lawler MLA GPO Box 3146 Darwin NT 0801 Tel: (08) 8936 5532 Fax: (08) 8936 5637 [email protected]
Tasmania
TAS Premier The Honourable Will Hodgman, MP 11th Floor, Executive Building 15 Murray Street Hobart TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6165 7650 [email protected]
Minister for Primary Industries and Water The Honourable Guy Barnett, MP 10th Floor, Executive Building 15 Murray Street Hobart TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6777 1013 [email protected]
Minister for Environment and Parks The Honourable Elise Archer, MP Level 10 15 Murray Street Hobart TAS 7000 Tel: (03) 6212 2210 [email protected]
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Chief Minister The Honourable Andrew Barr, MLA ACT Legislative Assembly GPO Box 1020 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: 02 6205 0011 Fax: 02 6205 0157 [email protected]
Minister for the Environment and Heritage The Honourable Mick Gentleman, MLA ACT Legislative Assembly GPO Box 1020 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6205 0000 Fax: (02) 6205 0535 [email protected]
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability The Honourable Shane Rattenbury, MLA ACT Legislative Assembly GPO Box 1020 Canberra ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 6205 0005 Fax: (02) 6205 0007 [email protected]
Conservation and Animal Welfare Ministers
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We plan for long and short term campaigns so your ongoing monthly pledge of any amount helps us commit to both with confidence. As a regular HSI Supporter your tax-deductible donation can be debited against a Visa, Mastercard, American Express card or your bank account.
Please mail to: Humane Society International, PO Box 439, Avalon NSW 2107.
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You feel a lot better when you’re regular Spread your donations over the year, call 1800 333 737 to learn more or send us the coupon below.
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Can you help? Call us on 1800 333 737 or send in this coupon.
WA dingoes are dinkum
Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who helped us secure a win for dingoes last year. Thousands of you signed our petition to the Western Australian Government and convinced them to abandon their plans to classify dingoes as “non-native fauna”.
Together, we got the WA Environment Minister, Stephen Dawson, to retain the dingo’s native status and recognise the species’ cultural and ecological significance.
Dingoes play a crucial role in our ecosystems and this reclassification would have made it easier to mistreat and kill them in the wild.
While this was a great step in the right direction, our only native canine is persecuted throughout Australia. We will continue working with all the State and Territory Governments to ensure the dingo is adequately recognised and protected.
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In November at the Indonesian Consulate in Sydney, HSI delivered an international petition with 1,000,000+ signatures calling for an urgent end to that country’s cruel dog meat trade.
While significant progress has been made with the national and regional governments agreeing to issue a ban, we are yet to see real action.
In delivering the petition to the Indonesian Consul General, Mr Heru Hartano Subolo, we stressed the urgency for closing markets where over a million dogs and thousands of cats are killed in an unnecessary trade.
We will continue pressuring Indonesia to shut down its dog meat trade.
* as part of the Dog Meat Free Indonesia Coalition: a coalition of international and Indonesian animal protection groups comprising Change for Foundation, Humane Society International, Animals Asia, Four Paws, Animals Friends Jogja and the Jakarta Animal Aid Network.
No bite behind their bark
