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Turtle slaughter

Posted by: 4bc.com.au | 13 April, 2010 - 1:59 PM

***WARNING - THE FOLLOWING FOOTAGE CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES THAT SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND DISTURBING ***

What follows is video footage depicting the slaughter of turtles in Northern Queensland. The practice is causing controversy for it's extreme brutality and inhumanity. Glen Elmes, Shadow Minister for Climate Change & Sustainability put out a media release calling for some kind of action against this unecessary and barbaric practice.

Media Release from Glen Elmes MP

Dugongs and turtles are being slaughtered inhumanely and illegally in Far North Queensland while the Bligh Labor Government sits on its hands and refuses to act, the LNP said today. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Glen Elmes said an horrendous video on YouTube showing the brutal and inhumane treatment of a turtle was just one example of a growing problem.

"For some time now we have been hearing reports of the illegal slaughter and mistreatment of dugongs and turtles in Far North Queensland, but the Bligh Labor Government is yet to act.

"There are reports of turtles being hooked by their shell and progressively dismembered, while the animal is still alive, in an attempt to keep the meat fresh.

"The daily 5.15pm flight from Horn Island to Cairns' baggage carousel often carries eskies containing dugong and turtle meat in transit to the black market, where the meat is worth up to $50 a kilogram.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are entitled to hunt using traditional methods for their own consumption — the LNP recognises, acknowledges and supports that entitlement.

"But no-one is entitled to transport kill — no-one is entitled to sell the meat."

Mr Elmes said reports of the inhumane and illegal practice were increasing but no-one had been prosecuted.

"In 2007-08, two incidents were reported; in 2008-09, 14 incidents were reported; and there have been 19 incidents reported so far this financial year," he said.

"All of these matters have been or are being investigated, but not a single conviction has been made yet."

Mr Elmes said the LNP, unlike the Bligh Labor Government, was committed to enforcing the existing laws and prosecuting people involved in the illegal slaughter of protected animals.

"Between the starving dingoes on Fraser Island, the destruction of the koalas in South East Queensland and the illegal killing of turtles and dugongs in Far North Queensland it seems there are no native animals in Queensland safe from the destructive maladministration of the Bligh Labor Government."

Blog comments

Last Saturday a green sea turtle was found - still alive - lying on her back COOKING IN THE SUN on the nature strip outside a house near Cairns. Amazingly, this is completely LEGAL in QLD! Turtles caught under traditional hunting rights are often left on their backs out in the sun and searing heat for days on end before they are killed. QLD's cruelty laws are such that this act would be a prosecutable offence for all except indigenous Australians. This is the IDIOCY of the law in QLD, which is also the only state with this loophole. Footage of the live turtle can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uncr_Zp1gso

Justine Thursday 20 January, 2011 - 6:11 AM
I sent this to ms yodie batzke ,she attacked the above announcement in a media release and has failed to respond , so as she has the link to here on her facebook her followers may ask her why she has not responded.
It reads as follows
Ms Yodie Dewis Batzke
I have just read Article 25 and it states
Ã¢Â?Â?Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.Ã¢Â?Â?
Can you point me to the section where it clearly or even vaguely states
Ã¢Â?Â?The indigenous peoples of Australia are totally exempt from cruelty laws in relation to the killing of any animal and should not liable be . As all other Australians are liable forÃ¢Â?Â? ?
As I was unable to locate any exemptions or if you know of any can you please advise me of where I can find it?
As this insertion into the act is solely in relation to cruelty and nothing else , as you seem to imply.
Also do you condone any animal indigenous people kill being cut up alive , and not conforming with any cruelty principles or laws people in 2010 find inhumane.
Regards Colin riddell

colin riddell Friday 24 December, 2010 - 2:12 PM
On December 10th every year since 1998, candlelit vigils have taken place at locations across Britain, Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world, where the rights of animals are ignored - where animals suffer pain and death. Justine and I tell the world of the uncontrolled unmonitored slaughter of dugong and sea turtles here in Australia on "wild time" radio. Listen live 12noon GMT London on www.tcrfm.co.uk
You can listen online from 10pm austalian time THANKS TO MICHAEL SMITH H WE GO GLOBAL .

colin riddell Wednesday 8 December, 2010 - 8:27 AM
Here we go again. Japanese boats have left port and Australia is sending its boats out in an effort to protect our waters. Again the question must be asked - WHY are we so interested in Japan's 900 whales when we allow some 2,000 endangered dugongs to be slaughtered? Latest video footage is of a dugong tied up in the shallows, carved open, alive and screaming whilst baking to death in the sun. Are we for real?
SHAME ON AUSTRALIA! This is not only a national disgrace, it is hypocrisy of the worst kind.

Justine Friday 3 December, 2010 - 4:12 PM
Dugongman needs you to help bob! And in turn help the dugongs and sea turtles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVtxQyraWQc

colin riddell Wednesday 1 December, 2010 - 12:38 PM
Can The Wilderness Society , Greenpeace ,Australian conservation society and wwf and the so called greens tell everyone.
What They are doing to save the vunerable to extinction dugong and olive ridley .loggerhead and leatherback turtles in Australian waters? Bob Irwin and I would like to know? http://dugongandturtles.webs.com/
I have tried for 16 months to get all the big Australian groups ,Greenpeace ,wwf,acf, cafnec the greens,and they ignore this totally ,yet they solicit funds for all the popular causes ,whales ,tigers ,dolphins ,baby seals .
The question bob Irwin and I ask is why do they ignore this , bob is fighting a marine development at tin can bay and this .
And yet all the big groups ignore it .
Surely people in Australia must ask why when aussies are not looking after our own backyard. The only group to help is Animals Australia see. http://www.animalsaustralia.org/take_action/protect-turtles-and-dugongs-in-FNQ

colin riddell Tuesday 30 November, 2010 - 12:20 PM