DSE CUTS HURT WILDLIFE

“The recently announced slashing of 70 DSE jobs may help explain local DSE’s failure to support wildlife rescue services,” according to the Nationals Member for Benalla Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “The Mansfield Wildlife Shelter has been forced to close because operators Gabby Mehegan and Rick Leary simply cannot afford to self fund the thousands of dollars involved in rescuing injured wildlife.”

“Similarly, Bev Jackson in the Buckland Valley battles on with her wildlife saving efforts with minimal assistance from the Victorian Government.”

Dr Sykes said, “It is clear that the Bracks Government really doesn’t care about our native flora and fauna and has absolutely no idea of how things work on the ground in the country.”

“Volunteers such as Gabby, Rick and Bev contribute thousands of hours and thousands of dollars, each year, to rescue injured wildlife and nurse them back to health. Local Veterinarians also make significant contributions in time and drugs to help injured native animals and birds.”

“In spite of ongoing efforts by the wildlife carers and Veterinarians the DSE have steadfastly refused to accept greater responsibility for the rescue and or destruction of injured wildlife – because of lack of resources.”

“Knowing that most grass roots DSE staff really care about animals it is clear that the problem is lack of commitment by Senior DSE Management and the Bracks Government,” Dr Sykes continued.

“The recently announced slashing of 70 DSE jobs has prompted claims by the Community and Public Service Union (CPSU) that the Bracks Government’s environmental credentials are in tatters. As CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary Karen Batt said, the budget cuts to the Land Stewardship and Biodiversity Group sound the death knell for Victoria’s unique biodiversity, productive land and catchments, and magnificent alpine areas, forests, wetlands and coastlines.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Bracks Government to provide meaningful support to volunteers such as Gabby, Rick and Bev and country Veterinarians who contribute so much to the wellbeing of our wildlife, and to guarantee that the DSE job cuts will not impact on front line environmental programs especially the management of pest animals and weeds.”

EDITOR’S FOOTNOTE:

Where might funding for wildlife rescuers come from – Ref Herald Sun, 15 December 2005 page 7 – perhaps Mr Bracks could spend less on artificial fish and more on real wildlife!

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989