Media Release Media Release Media Release

Monday 27th April

Stop Quail Shooting in Tasmania

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) is calling for an end to the shooting of Brown Quail in Tasmania. Each year there is a four week open season beginning in early May. This year AACT would like to see no season.

“The Tasmanian Government should be ashamed of its increasingly appalling stance on animal rights issues, being one of few States that still permits broadscale slaughtering of native birds.” announced Chris Simcox, spokesperson for AACT, “Brown Quail are small, and can move quickly, and shooting them with a shotgun will inevitably lead to wounding and suffering. Who is out there watching these people to make sure they don't leave birds to die slowly from injuries?”

Shooting of native Brown Quail is currently restricted to an area north of a line between Swansea and Queenstown. There are concerns that shooting will occur south of this line, as has been reported in the past. AACT is even more concerned that shooting is allowed without knowledge of quail numbers.

“There needs to be independent and comprehensive surveys undertaken to learn about Brown Quail poulation sizes and distribution.” declared Mr Simcox, “There are no long-term studies of the impacts of shooting, and no surveys of quail numbers in Tasmania. How can shooting be allowed year after year when the Tasmanian Government knows almost nothing about this species?”

Other States have brought an end to quail shooting, including Western Australia and Queensland. Tasmania is the only State that allows shooting of Brown Quail (?).

“Tasmania needs to become progressive and move to outlaw cruel and unethical shooting practices as other mainland States have done.” said Mr Simcox, “When Western Australian banned recreational duck and quail shooting in 1990, the then Premier, Dr Carmen Lawrence, in a media release stated: "Our community has reached a stage of enlightenment where it can no longer accept the institutionalised killing of native birds for recreation." We are urging the Tasmanian government to evolve to this level of enlightenment and end the shooting of Brown Quail.”

For more information contact:
Chris Simcox, Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania Ph: 0429 015 110