Proposed laws would give the green light for the killing of protected animals that stray into venues.
originally posted 2013
WHAT THE.... seriously, i doubt any of you will let this one ride..
please share, tweet, like n bookmark/monitor. and prepare to have your say.
I hope the wildlife parks, when showing our caged animals, (don't worry, I know why some are in zoos) advise visitors that, "for your convenience, this particular species will be killed so to not disturb you or get in your way".
one thing that better be done, is a campaign to advise visitors...
DON'T TOUCH WILDLIFE and CALL WILDLIFE RESCUE.
Hopefully RSPCA wildlife will be all over this.
- Wildlife sacrifice for Comm Games -> interesting. this article deleted.
- Games organisers take aim at native animals
- Commonwealth Crackdown
- Queensland wants a Clean Up for the Commonwealth Games
- Wildlife targets during Games -> this article deleted.
I hope the wildlife parks, when showing our caged animals, (don't worry, I know why some are in zoos) advise visitors that, "for your convenience, this particular species will be killed so to not disturb you or get in your way".
one thing that better be done, is a campaign to advise visitors...
DON'T TOUCH WILDLIFE and CALL WILDLIFE RESCUE.
Hopefully RSPCA wildlife will be all over this.
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| "they said what?" |
GOLD Coast Commonwealth Games organisers can expect an army of mobile scooters to arrive at ticket booths in 2018 demanding right to entry.
Australia's most powerful seniors lobby group is outraged at the very suggestion the number of mobility scooters at the games be capped.
"What are they going to put a cap on next, wheelchairs?'' asked Michael O'Neill, boss of National Seniors, which has over a growing membership of more than 200,000 people across the nation.
Mr O'Neill, who is already investigating whether discrimination legislation would be breached by such a cap, said the government did not appear to grasp the reality of its ageing demographic.
Thousands more people will be using mobility devices in the five years before the games are staged and they should not face any form of discrimination at entry points, he said.
Mr O'Neill was responding to reports in today's The Courier Mail that the State Government is examining placing caps on mobility scooters at the games.
Commonwealth Games Minister Jan Stuckey said a whole range of recommendations being examined about news laws relating to the games and nothing had been yet decided.
"Each item will require careful examination of its needs and requirements," Ms Stuckey said.
"This is a demonstration of the rigorous planning that is taking place in for the games.''
But an outraged Mr O'Neill suggested there would be little room for negotiation about scooter caps with the sports-mad, tax-paying seniors who are ultimately helping to fund the games.
Mr O'Neill said the Gold Coast Skilled Park Stadium, where much of the games will take place, had no restriction on mobility scooters.
He was also checking other potential venues but believed most venues were wheelchair friendly.
"Frankly I don't see what the problem is,'' he said.
Overnight, it was reported that the raft of new laws proposed for the Commonwealth Games include giving the green light for the killing of protected animals that stray into venues during competition.
Possible amendments to Environment and Heritage legislation proposed in a review prepared for Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey include ``allowing moving or destruction of protected fauna in urgent circumstances (eg a snake on the mountain bike track).''
But the briefing paper also advises new laws or amendments may not be needed, with removal licences available under the present Act.
READ FOR FULL BRIEFING NOTE HERE
``There are plenty of wildlife handlers in the private sector (see Yellow Pages) who have licences. Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation could engage a few and have them on call throughout the Games.''
Protected species on the Gold Coast include koalas, the giant barred frog and the squirrel glider.
The papers suggest the solution is still under discussion.
Environmental group Gecko president Lois Levy said few Australians would accept a protected animal being killed to allow a race to continue.
``I think it is pretty obvious that the solution is getting in the wildlife rangers to remove animals,'' she said.
The extraordinary plan is just one part of legislative reforms under consideration by the State Government to prepare the tourist strip for the world's eyes which will be firmly focused on the 2018 event, and Australia.
A ministerial briefing note to Ms Stuckey, who is also the Tourism Minister, obtained under Right to Information laws, revealed that if passed, the new laws would also force householders living within camera-shot of the Games' telecast to clean up their properties, increase police ``move on'' powers to clear up riff-raff, and ban unauthorised broadcasts.
READ FOR FULL BRIEFING NOTE HERE
Preparations for the Games, expected to attract about 6500 athletes and officials from more than 70 countries, are believed to be well within schedule.
A preliminary report on potential new laws shows the Government is using the London Olympics as a partial guide to create a legal framework for the Games.
The briefing paper also acknowledges the problem of untidy buildings ``within camera shot of iconic scenery'' might require a diplomatic solution.
A possible answer was to pass a law requiring property owners to clean up or cover their ``mess, graffiti etc'', but there is also recognition such a law could cause problems.
``Forcing private owners to clean their properties at their own expense would be controversial,'' the papers says.
``The (Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation) would need to fund the work.''
A ban on unauthorised broadcasting, a crackdown on ticket scalpers and a widening of police powers to allow officers to pick up people and release them ``some distance from the event site'' are also being examined.
But a potential invading army of mobility scooters as our ageing demographic demands a seat at the Games is one scenario with no easy answer.
The Government is considering putting limits on the number of scooters entering each venue.
Australia's most powerful seniors lobby group is outraged at the very suggestion the number of mobility scooters at the games be capped.
"What are they going to put a cap on next, wheelchairs?'' asked Michael O'Neill, boss of National Seniors, which has over a growing membership of more than 200,000 people across the nation.
Mr O'Neill, who is already investigating whether discrimination legislation would be breached by such a cap, said the government did not appear to grasp the reality of its ageing demographic.
Thousands more people will be using mobility devices in the five years before the games are staged and they should not face any form of discrimination at entry points, he said.
Mr O'Neill was responding to reports in today's The Courier Mail that the State Government is examining placing caps on mobility scooters at the games.
Commonwealth Games Minister Jan Stuckey said a whole range of recommendations being examined about news laws relating to the games and nothing had been yet decided.
"Each item will require careful examination of its needs and requirements," Ms Stuckey said.
"This is a demonstration of the rigorous planning that is taking place in for the games.''
But an outraged Mr O'Neill suggested there would be little room for negotiation about scooter caps with the sports-mad, tax-paying seniors who are ultimately helping to fund the games.
Mr O'Neill said the Gold Coast Skilled Park Stadium, where much of the games will take place, had no restriction on mobility scooters.
He was also checking other potential venues but believed most venues were wheelchair friendly.
"Frankly I don't see what the problem is,'' he said.
Overnight, it was reported that the raft of new laws proposed for the Commonwealth Games include giving the green light for the killing of protected animals that stray into venues during competition.
Possible amendments to Environment and Heritage legislation proposed in a review prepared for Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey include ``allowing moving or destruction of protected fauna in urgent circumstances (eg a snake on the mountain bike track).''
But the briefing paper also advises new laws or amendments may not be needed, with removal licences available under the present Act.
READ FOR FULL BRIEFING NOTE HERE
``There are plenty of wildlife handlers in the private sector (see Yellow Pages) who have licences. Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation could engage a few and have them on call throughout the Games.''
Protected species on the Gold Coast include koalas, the giant barred frog and the squirrel glider.
The papers suggest the solution is still under discussion.
Environmental group Gecko president Lois Levy said few Australians would accept a protected animal being killed to allow a race to continue.
``I think it is pretty obvious that the solution is getting in the wildlife rangers to remove animals,'' she said.
The extraordinary plan is just one part of legislative reforms under consideration by the State Government to prepare the tourist strip for the world's eyes which will be firmly focused on the 2018 event, and Australia.
A ministerial briefing note to Ms Stuckey, who is also the Tourism Minister, obtained under Right to Information laws, revealed that if passed, the new laws would also force householders living within camera-shot of the Games' telecast to clean up their properties, increase police ``move on'' powers to clear up riff-raff, and ban unauthorised broadcasts.
READ FOR FULL BRIEFING NOTE HERE
Preparations for the Games, expected to attract about 6500 athletes and officials from more than 70 countries, are believed to be well within schedule.
A preliminary report on potential new laws shows the Government is using the London Olympics as a partial guide to create a legal framework for the Games.
The briefing paper also acknowledges the problem of untidy buildings ``within camera shot of iconic scenery'' might require a diplomatic solution.
A possible answer was to pass a law requiring property owners to clean up or cover their ``mess, graffiti etc'', but there is also recognition such a law could cause problems.
``Forcing private owners to clean their properties at their own expense would be controversial,'' the papers says.
``The (Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation) would need to fund the work.''
A ban on unauthorised broadcasting, a crackdown on ticket scalpers and a widening of police powers to allow officers to pick up people and release them ``some distance from the event site'' are also being examined.
But a potential invading army of mobility scooters as our ageing demographic demands a seat at the Games is one scenario with no easy answer.
The Government is considering putting limits on the number of scooters entering each venue.
Plans to authorise the killing of protected animals, limit mobility scooters and frisk spectators at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games have raised the ire of the state opposition.
Queensland opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the LNP government risked ruining the spirit of the games with overly restrictive rules outlined in ministerial briefing notes.
But Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said she was yet to decide whether she would accept the recommendations made in February.
“Each item will require careful examination of its needs and requirements,” Ms Stuckey said.
“This is a demonstration of the rigorous planning that is taking place in for the games.
“At this stage, this has merely been noted. No decision has been made. Common sense will prevail."
The notes suggest amendments to environment legislation to permit destruction of protected fauna at games events in “urgent circumstances”.
“Like a snake on a mountain bike track,” the notes offer as an example.
There’s also a proposal to cap the number of mobility scooters permitted at events to help prevent overcrowding.
Letters would need to be sent from the Department of Main Roads and Transport to scooter owners warning them of the cap if introduced, the notes suggest.
Punters could also expected to be frisked or screened by electronic scanners before entering games events if a range of measures designed to improve public safety are enacted.
The paper also recommends that security staff carry out some of the screening work to free-up police officers to focus on other crowd control and transport issues.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was important to ensure the event could be enjoyed by everyone.
“Any overly restrictive rules or regulations will not help in that regard,” she said.
“In addition, any unnecessary or heavy-handed approach to dealing with local fauna at venues will only diminish public support and enthusiasm for the Games.
“I am especially concerned if people using mobility scooters are affected by any new laws restricting their numbers in venues.”
The Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, in 2018.
Queensland opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the LNP government risked ruining the spirit of the games with overly restrictive rules outlined in ministerial briefing notes.
But Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said she was yet to decide whether she would accept the recommendations made in February.
“Each item will require careful examination of its needs and requirements,” Ms Stuckey said.
“This is a demonstration of the rigorous planning that is taking place in for the games.
“At this stage, this has merely been noted. No decision has been made. Common sense will prevail."
The notes suggest amendments to environment legislation to permit destruction of protected fauna at games events in “urgent circumstances”.
“Like a snake on a mountain bike track,” the notes offer as an example.
There’s also a proposal to cap the number of mobility scooters permitted at events to help prevent overcrowding.
Letters would need to be sent from the Department of Main Roads and Transport to scooter owners warning them of the cap if introduced, the notes suggest.
Punters could also expected to be frisked or screened by electronic scanners before entering games events if a range of measures designed to improve public safety are enacted.
The paper also recommends that security staff carry out some of the screening work to free-up police officers to focus on other crowd control and transport issues.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was important to ensure the event could be enjoyed by everyone.
“Any overly restrictive rules or regulations will not help in that regard,” she said.
“In addition, any unnecessary or heavy-handed approach to dealing with local fauna at venues will only diminish public support and enthusiasm for the Games.
“I am especially concerned if people using mobility scooters are affected by any new laws restricting their numbers in venues.”
The Commonwealth Games will take place on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, in 2018.
Games organisers want laws changed to be able to kill animals that get in the way during events to help the Games run smoothly.
Environmental groups are furious and say it's a horrible image to send to the rest of the world.
"We would prefer they do something about having qualified people present to remove the animal on a temporary basis, rather than actually destroying it," says Lois Levy from GECKO.
"I don't think it gives a very good image for visitors from our other countries, to think that we would destroy our native animals, which thousands of people would come to see," she says.
Games organisers also want to crack down on Mobility Scooters, limiting how many can be at certain events, and may also force locals near Games venues to clean up their homes and yards.
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