(Australia)My letter re NSW proposed hunting bill

[Guest guest]

Premier Robert Carr,

Parliament House,

N.S.W.,

Australia

Fax: (02) 9228 3935

Email: bob.carr

 

 

18th December 2001

 

 

Dear Premier Carr,

 

Withdraw the Game Bill 2001 (NSW) - Ban hunting.

 

I was recently notified that you have introduced a new Bill (Game Bill 2001)

to legalise the hunting of some targeted animal species in NSW.

 

Apparently the Game Bill 2001 defines " hunt " as " to use any firearm, bow,

animal or

other hunting device to capture kill or harm the animals,

but does not include laying or using poison for that purpose " (page 2).

 

Hunting animals is a blood sport. The pursuit and killing of animals for

sport or pleasure is cruel and unacceptable in today’s enlightened society.

Animals should be treated with the same compassion that we extend to our

fellow humans. Animals have the same capacity to suffer as humans do. Most

animals have a central nervous system and feel pain the same way as you or I

do. Yet you would seek to legitimise the cruel and barbaric treatment of

animals in your Game Bill 2001.

 

How hypocritical it is of you and your Government to speak of tolerance

towards other humans with regards to a multicultural society and freedom of

religion in Australia while your proposed Bill shows intolerance and

cruelty towards other animals species.

 

While NSW aims to formalise barbaric cruelty to animals using the Game Bill

2001 many people in Britain are working towards banning the hunting of

animals. Australia has shown itself to be an intolerant and cruel country

both in terms of compassion to humans and animals. Australia’s poor

treatment of humans has been shown in our treatment of Aboriginal

Australians and more recently by our treatment of refugees ( boat people ).

Australia’s long history of cruelty to animals includes aerial culling of

brumbies in NSW, the ongoing massacre of kangaroos, the targeting of any

wild species with no economic significance with cruel poisons such as 1080

and so forth.

 

Saint Francis of Assisi said " Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals)

is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher

mission--to be of service to them whenever they require it... If you have

men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion

and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. "

 

Premier Carr, please show some enlightenment and withdraw the Game Bill

2001.

 

Regards,

 

Marguerite Wegner (Ms)