Animal Care Australia was invited by the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (NSW) to join 30 other environmental-based organisations, including Greening Australia, representatives from marine conservation, land conservation, fauna conservation, land care, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, RSPCA, WIRES, preservation volunteer organisations and many more.
For me, I felt like a little fish in a pond with very big fish, but this highlights just how far Animal Care Australia has progressed in recognition as a key stakeholder for government. A quick overview of the important points relating to Animal Care Australia (and our members):
Þ Animal Care Australia’s presence was highlighted in the room for animal welfare. This was greatly appreciated given the presence of the RSPCA.
Þ There will be more topic-focused consultation meetings that Animal Care Australia will be invited to attend.
Þ Animal Care Australia (& those in the room) will all receive the Report from the Biodiversity Conservation Act Review and key stakeholders will be invited to provide feedback.
Þ I managed to work in the importance of licensed wildlife keeping, and the fact the department sees us as ‘those bad people who keep natives as pets’ and Penny welcomed the fact I said they should be working with us – as we are all conservation minded and a resource that is un-tapped.
Þ I also managed to highlight the department has wanted nothing to do with attempts to start preservation breeding programs etc and I used the Black-throated Finch and Oenpelli Python as two examples.
After almost 2 1/2 hours of meeting and chatting and making some new friends – Animal Care Australia is in a great position to progress matters relating to native wildlife licensing, and private-run preservation projects.
Things will need to wait until after the government releases it’s response to the Report from the Biodiversity Conservation Act Review which was tabled in the NSW Parliament on 24th August 2023.
Let’s hope with a new government and a new Minister we can finally get things moving in the right direction.
By: Michael Donnelly – Animal Care Australia President. Originally published: September 2023 ACE Newsletter.
