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Greens Want To Fence Us In

Victoria would be over-run by feral animals if The Greens had their way, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today.

By Phillip Davis - 28th August 2006 - Back to News

The Greens animals policy advocates the banning of feral animal controls such as 1080 poison, which Mr Davis said was simply impractical.

"If The Greens had their way, we would be banned from using 1080 to control feral animals such as wild dogs, foxes and rabbits, and if you take into account their policy to ban recreational hunting, we wouldn’t be able to shoot them either," Mr Davis said.

"The Greens’ only solution to the feral animal problem is exclusion fencing.

"How many thousands of kilometres of fencing would be needed to vermin-proof every home, farm, road, community park or open space, state and national park in Victoria?

"Wild dogs, foxes and rabbits are already out of control in Victoria and The Greens’ solution is to have feral fencing running all over the state, keeping in the humans while the feral animals are left to increase their populations to unlimited numbers. This policy is irrational and ridiculous."

Wild dogs and foxes have no natural predators, Mr Davis said. If Victorians are banned from controlling these feral animals, native animals will be wiped out and feral animals would breed to plague proportions. Dogs and foxes would be howling and prowling around homes while humans are locked behind security fences.

"It beggars belief that The Greens would have Victorians living behind security fencing for their own safety, in the interests of saving wild dogs and foxes," Mr Davis said.

"Who is going to pay for the feral fencing and who is going to take responsibility for maintaining it?

"The Liberal Party on the other hand has developed some practical, achievable policies to regain control of Victoria’s public and private land from feral animals.

"A Liberal Government will implement a strategic aerial baiting trial for wild dogs in remote areas.

"We will also introduce a fox bounty program in conjunction with primary producers and shooting groups.

"Fencing in the humans while allowing wild dogs and foxes to roam around freely is a ridiculous proposition.

"A Liberal Government will control feral animals, and not allow the ferals to take over our environment."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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