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Gippsland › Latest news › Philip Davis

Labor’S Fox Solution Really Cash Lottery Game

The Bracks Government is playing around with a cash prize lottery instead of implementing adequate fox control measures, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today.

By Phillip Davis - 20th April 2006 - Back to News

In yet another example of Bracks Government waste and mismanagement, Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron’s announcement today trivialises the importance of fox control measures and is an attempt to fool country Victorians into believing he is taking the issue seriously.

Mr Davis said the Bracks Government’s concept of a ballot with a $2500 cash prize for a sporting shooter willing to hunt foxes on private land was ridiculous.

"Foxes are a problem for many farming properties and for the environment, as foxes predate on lambs and small native species," Mr Davis said.

"The Liberal Party fully supports the partnership between property owners and sporting shooters to keep this pest under control.

"But giving sporting shooters the opportunity to enter a ‘ballot’ for cash is a pathetic attempt by the Bracks Government to give the illusion it cares about fox control.

"If the Bracks Government was serious about controlling foxes in country Victoria, it would implement the Liberal Party’s policy for a long term fox bounty program."

Mr Davis said in 2002, a 12-month fox bounty trial was conducted by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

During this time, more than 150,000 fox tails were handed in to 24 centres across the state.

"This work was completely undone when the Bracks Government scrapped the bounty, and foxes are back to plague proportions."

A Liberal Government will allocate $6 million over four years for a long term fox bounty program, to be determined in consultation with primary producers and shooting organisations.

"The Bracks Government has done little about feral animal control for the past six years, and now, seven months from a state election, the best Bob Cameron can do is invent a fox lottery," Mr Davis said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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