This petition of Queensland citizens draws to your attention that the recreational shooting of ducks and quails for the 2003 season is currently banned in Queensland and as such it would be the most appropriate time to enact a permanent ban because of the following reasons. • The shooting of bird life is not sporting and is inherently cruel. • Up to 1.5 times the number of birds bagged are left behind injured and may die slow deaths as a result of their injuries. • Proper enforcement of the regulations is impossible in a State as vast as Queensland. • Spent shots from lead pellets that are ingested by ducks and other bird life cause lead poisoning which leads to an agonizing death. • Ducks have social systems and often lifelong monogamous partners. • Many protected species are illegally shot during duck season. Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to act urgently to amend the native Conservation Act 1992 and ban permanently the practice of recreational duck and quail shooting in Queensland.