Benefits to all
Exotic
and Native Bird Legislation, Animal Welfare, Importation, Stolen Birds, Local
Government. The List Goes On! Your members can benefit from regular updates
on issues relating to all levels of government, conservation issues plus news from
other bird clubs. VAC affiliates receive all this information. Draft
legislation, discussion papers and government reports are tabled as they become
available. For instance, VAC affiliates received the Code of Practice for the
Housing of Cage Birds first as comments to government from the VAC, then as a
draft for avicultural comment, and finally as the completed, gazetted Code of
Practice. Similar consultations have occurred with state fauna regulations and
with Federal exotic species legislation.The VAC Newsletter is COPYRIGHT
FREE for you to use items in your club's publication.
The VAC has regular
dialogue with relevant government departments. It is consulted regularly by
these departments which include the Department of Sustainability &
Environment (DSE), and Agriculture Victoria. The VAC has sent representatives
to Canberra to represent Victorian interests in discussions about the National
Registration Scheme for Exotic Birds.
Through AFA, we have direct input
into the Ministerial Advisory Committees for Exotic Species Legislation and for
Live Bird Importation. Through the VAC, your members are represented to
state and Federal Governments on committees and advisory groups relevant to
aviculture.
Being part of the
VAC is important. Can we make a difference? YES! The VAC is built on the
unity of purpose, democratic debate and consensus policy-making If we, the
clubs, don't communicate and co-operate with each other, then we each battle
alone on many fronts. Together, we represent many bird breeders and people take
notice! The VAC currently represents thousands of bird breeders. Your club can
join the VAC. It CAN make a difference ! If your club has views, ideas, if it
needs advice, help or support, then joining the VAC can make all the difference
in the world - to your members.
The VAC makes a difference. It has
· developed and reviewed the Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds in
partnership with the government,
· had birds removed from the Feral and Nuisance Animals Act (then referred to as
the Companion Animals Legislation),
· been the first to establish a Stolen Bird Hotline,
· offered funds for avicultural projects and has a Research Fund for this
purpose. Evidence of this is the Volume 20, Issue 8 of the Australian
Birdkeeper magazine where David Carr was able to tabulate breeding results
of Red-browed Fig Parrots with the assistance of the V.A.C. Research Fund.
· overseen the staging of Bird Sales in Victoria,
· provided a Local Government Kit for those individuals and/or groups negotiating
at that level,
· been constantly representing your interests in the state and federal
government hierarchy,
· continually negotiated with the Department of Sustainability and Environment
concerning native birds.
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Updated September 2004. HTML written by Tom De Graaff
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