Paper Petition

This petition of citizens of Queensland draws to your attention • Shooting native birdlife is not sporting. • Up to 1½ times the number of birds bagged are left behind injured. • Many protected species are illegally shot during duck season. • Ducks have social systems and often, lifelong monogamous partners. • Proper enforcement of the regulations is impossible. • Spent shot from lead pellets causes lead poisoning to other birds and the environment. • How much is really known? In New South Wales, where recreational duck shooting was banned in 1995, a scientific study on rice fields has commenced. It is now thought that instead of waterbirds damaging crops they may, in fact, be helping rice farmers by keeping the real pests down, such as Blood Worms, snails and other invertebrates. In the words of Dr Carmen Lawrence (then Premier of W.A.), There is widespread opposition throughout the community to the cruelty & environmental damage caused by shooters ... Our community has reached a stage of enlightenment where it can no longer accept the institutionalised killing of native birds for recreation. In the last three years alone, over 34 000 birds were killed for sport in Queensland.

Your petitioners therefore request that you act urgently to amend the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and ban the practice of recreational duck and quail shooting in Queensland.