Media Release Media Release Media Release

December 28 2005

The Bitter Taste of Tasmanian Wildlife

Groups target Tassie “Taste” tourists in further bid to end “war on wildlife”

Animal protection group Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) and the Tasmanian Conservation Trust (TCT) will stage a demonstration in and around the Taste of Tasmania festival in Hobart on Thursday 29th December as part of an ongoing national campaign to highlight Tasmania’s 'War on Wildlife'. The demonstration will commence at 11:00 am on Parliament Lawns, Hobart.

This action is intended to inform the many Tasmanians and interstate visitors who attend the festival of the cruel policies and practices employed throughout the State, which have a devastating effect on many Tasmanian Wildlife species.

Information will be distributed highlighting the indiscriminate and systematic extermination of native animals for financial benefit. Commercial meat industries which exploit Bennetts Wallabies and Brush Tail Possums will be exposed, along with the Forestry and agriculture industries, which continue to use 1080 poison to destroy wildlife in order to maximize profit.

“The response to similar demonstrations at TT-Lines ferry terminals in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW has been to try and deflect attention away from the real issues at hand, ” says AACT wildlife campaign spokesperson Karen Bevis.

"We are a coalition of concerned community groups who aim to focus public attention around Australia on Tasmania’s atrocious treatment of its native wildlife. This demonstration is about the ongoing widespread use of 1080 poison, the mass slaughter of Bennetts Wallabies and Brush Tail Possums to supply an expanding and inadequately managed meat industry (many of which will be served at the 'Taste' festival), recreational and commercial Muttonbirding, recreational duck shooting and many other practices that make Tasmania a living hell for its indigenous wildlife."

“Despite recent announcements by Judy Jackson regarding the use of 1080 poison, the Lennon Government response to community concerns regarding native wildlife has been wholly inadequate. Demonstrations such as this will continue until State and Federal Governments take serious steps to ban the use of 1080 poison throughout the state and implement meaningful measures to protect all Tasmanian wildlife.” concluded Ms Bevis

For further information contact AACT