Destructive truth behind Australia’s most ‘spectacular’ tree invading homes and gardens
https://au.news.yahoo.com/destructive-truth-behind-australias-most-spectacular-tree-invading-homes-and-gardens-065331231.html
Calls to ban invasive plant making Australia’s backyards ‘ticking time bombs’
https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-to-ban-invasive-plant-making-australias-backyards-ticking-time-bombs-054201215.html
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We need to call them out
Safety first is a catch cry that applies to so many issues: driving on the road, working at heights, working with tools, using a kitchen knife – from the complex to the common, safety first applies in just about every human situation.
HEREIN LIES A glaring contradiction. When it comes to the safety of native animals, the mantra seems to take a back seat, if it is factored into our thoughts at all. Surely they can take care of themselves, we might mutter. On the other hand, when it comes to domestic pets like cats and dogs, safety first once again comes to mind and we go to great lengths to pamper and pander to them.
Econetwork Port Stephens share our frustration with the lack of urgency in relation to roaming domestic cats. In: Cat control in NSW – how it could work, Ewa Meyer, ECOUPDATE, March 2023, summarises the current situation and sets out the steps required to bring about a safer natural world for wildlife. Here is a short extract:
Following the Killer Cats article in January’s EcoUpdate, we received feedback from members wishing to know how they could help support changes in legislation relating to cat control in NSW. Several people also mentioned that they are cat owners and that their cats are quite happy indoors or in cat runs and enclosures.
The Invasive Species Council and partners have produced a guide called ‘Safe cat, Safe wildlife‘which we can all use to discuss the issue with our local state members, as well as with our local councillors. The main recommendation for the NSW Government to reduce wildlife predation by pet cats is to:
- Amend the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998 to enable local governments to enforce anti-roaming laws for pet cats at a local level.
Current inadequate NSW State legislation
Laws relating to domestic cats in NSW are prescribed in the NSW Companion Animals Act (CAA) 1998 which allows cats to roam free. The protection of native birds and animals from domestic cats is covered by the Act which tasks local councils with promoting and implementing the requirements.
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From a MHCS perspective, the CAA for example states that:
- cats are prohibited in wildlife protection areas.
- a council officer may issue a notice to the owner of the nuisance cat requiring the owner to prevent the nuisance behaviour, such as causing damage on your property or creating a disturbance.
BUT who is going to monitor the massive numbers of cats allowed to roam by owners who believe that their cuddly little cat would never do any harm. The reality is there are insufficient council officers to do such a job. The easiest and most sensible way to deal with the problem is to keep cats contained, as is required for dogs.
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Is this the circuit breaker we’ve been waiting for?
Responsible cat ownership in NSW is the best way to protect wildlife!
FINALLY, AFTER YEARS of advocacy by nature conservation groups and local government authorities frustrated by the inability to bring irresponsible pet owners to heel and, after years of procrastination by successive NSW governments, parliament has established an inquiry into pet cat management in the state. MHCS, along with hundreds of others, has made a submission to the Legislative Council Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Emma Hurst, from the Animal Justice Party.
Approximately 96 million native mammals, birds and reptiles are killed by roaming pet cats every year in New South Wales. We can’t change the nature of cats, but we can change the culture that allows pet cats to roam and kill. Right now, an inquiry is underway in NSW which could change the laws to allow local councils to bring in cat containment rules. Almost every other state permits this.
Hundreds of thousands of roaming pet cats are sending our suburbs silent.
In 2023, damning research released by the Australian National University found that roaming pet cats kill around 66 million native animals each year in Sydney alone.
The truth is, New South Wales has some of the most archaic cat management laws in the country. These laws not only allow cats to spend their time hunting and killing native animals, they actually prevent local councils from mandating that cats be contained.
This means communities are powerless to introduce one of the easiest and highest impact policies to protect local wildlife.
Now for the good news: the state government has launched an inquiry into the management of pet cat populations in New South Wales. This is our opportunity to have 24/7 cat containment across the state — a simple action that would have enormous benefits for native wildlife.
Plus, cat containment would be a win for cat owners too. Evidence shows that pet cats that are responsibly kept at home can live up to 10 years longer than if they were free-roaming.
… From MMM Issue #47, Dec. 24 – Jan. 25