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Friday September 3, 2010

What we're talking about

  • DORA mirsodelis on Hinch sends off Irvin Rockman DERRYN DISGRACE HAVE YOU NO SHAME ON THE DAY OF IRVIN ROCKMANS FUNERAL OF ALL DAYS I AGREE WITH LISA.SHAME SHAME SHAME. more
  • Paddt on 'Whatever it takes' Richo - is this the same Richo involved with the tax evasion case with Rene Rivkin an Swiss bank accounts, where the Swiss ... more
  • Greg on Hinch sends off Irvin Rockman Re: Irvin RockmanTypical Hinch - He waits until the day the poor guy dies before spewing out what would have been ... more
  • Mylene on 'Drug addiction is not a disease' Derryn, Is any medical condition that occurs because of a lifestyle choice and ends up involving medication the same as drug ... more
  • Dave on Hinch sends off Irvin Rockman On the day Darren Hinch dies he will be remembered as someone who took delight in dancing of the graves of people the day ... more
  • Robert Sands on Hinch sends off Irvin Rockman My friend Irvin passed. He was a funny fellow. And good for Melbourne. I was a friend of his for about 25 years. My favorite ... more
  • Lisa French on Hinch sends off Irvin Rockman Yet another example of the twisted mind of Derryn Hinch.......not while Irvin is alive and able to respond, but on the day ... more
  • Sandra & Graeme Brown on 'Drug addiction is not a disease' Hi Derryn, my husband and I agree with you 100%, drug addiction is not a disease, it is a choice that a person makes, just ... more
  • Sandra on When is enough enough? I still believe in one vote for one person, note one vote for you and if you don't win I will give my vote to someone else. ... more
  • Ashley Brown on When is enough enough? Enough is enough isn't a strong enough term. We need to go back to the polls for another election ASAP and lets see who ... more
  • Terry on 'Three Amigos' not that independent? Most primary votes. Most two party preferred votes. Democracy?What's that?Forget it. It's the Three Amigos 15 minutes of ... more
  • Steve - Traralgon on 'The crowd just kept swarming' I agree Dave you are hard pressed to find someone who isn't either Asian or Indian in the city these days. Anyway the CBD ... more
  • Terry on When is enough enough? Three political minnows have managed to make a national election all about. Democracy at its finest. more
  • John on 'Our voting system is a joke' Why would ben cousin get away taking drug and still in the Sport?? Any sport other than AFL would have the player ... more
  • Dave on 'The crowd just kept swarming' feels like we are visitors in their city these days...this overseas student business has become absurd more
  • Tony on 'Our voting system is a joke' Dear Darryn,Are you really this stupid or just pretending.Lets have a an unbiased look at the vote.The last three candidates ... more
  • Jack on 'The crowd just kept swarming' 20 Minutes for an officer to be on scene in central Melbourne.And thats what is called a fast response to a job.You can get ... more
  • Timothy Vukomanovic on 'Three Amigos' not that independent? Enough is enough, do these independents have no principals that they stand for, do they have no political phylosophy that ... more
  • Kcory on Hinch doesn't let up on pedophiles *Janelle Wednesday 11 August, 2010 - 8:33 AM I agree with you. I hope you find some peace. I am also a victim that suffers ... more
  • Joseph Le Gall on Julia Gillard will regret this forever Cutting the immigration of non caucasians is not the answer.Caucasians are not the God chosen people they think they ... more

Australians killing dugongs and turtles

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 15 January, 2010 - 4:25 PM
Sea Turtle

Australians have been protesting, quite rightly, about the obscene slaughter of whales in the Antarctic by the Japanese. Some of us have been protesting for 25 years.

Their excuses about killing the whales for scientific purposes and cultural reasons are nautical rubbish. Commercial hogwash.

But how can we protest about them and yet right here at home protected dugongs and sea turtles are being slaughtered in the name of tradition and culture? Even though dugongs are listed under wildlife regulations as being 'vulnerable to extinction'.

Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders have the right to kill limited numbers of turtles and dugongs with a permit for ceremonial purposes, in recognition of a 40,000-year-old custom.

Under the Native Title Act they can make limited kills for 'the purpose of satisfying their personal, domestic or non?commercial communal needs; and  in exercise or enjoyment of their native title rights and interests'.

That's not what is happening. Forty thousand years ago they didn't have aluminium boats and high-powered motors. Worse than that, poachers are killing dugongs and turtles near Cairns and apparently selling the meat illegally for between $25 and $50 a kilogram. The racket involves black market sales in Cairns, Innisfail and Gordonvale.

In recent months Rangers reportedly have found rotting carcasses of these placcid protected creatures at the Yarrabah dump and nearby beaches south of Cairns. The remains discarded by poachers after taking the 'good meat' for sale.

Tribal Aborigines who hunt and fish by traditional methods do not leave carcasses to rot. They argue that dugongs and turtles are being slaughtered by non-traditional methods for commercial gain.

They too are understandably angry about the abuse of traditional rights and the threat of extinction.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has been made aware of the scandal. And Shadow Minister Greg Hunt has been briefed. But the indiscriminate killing goes on.

It is a travesty. And if the Japanese get proof of it they'll have a whale of a time.

Blog comments Your Say

  • A few months ago indigenous australians went over to Low Iles near Port Douglas and in front of crying children and families killed at least 4. When asked why they said "because we can". Imagine if a tourist did this?

    Jo Smallacombe Wednesday 25 August, 2010 - 1:55 PM

  • WE CAMPAIGNED UP HERE FOR THE SEA TURTLES AND DUGONGS AND KICKED BUTT.
    WARREN Entsch has pledged to serve the people, rather than his party, following ALP member Jim Turnour's concession of defeat in the seat of Leichhardt.
    THE BIGGEST SWING IN AUSTRALIA !

    colin riddell Tuesday 24 August, 2010 - 8:04 PM

  • Stop the terrible slaughter of turtles and dugongs!

    Ghena Sunday 22 August, 2010 - 8:29 PM

  • If the animals are endangered, they should be protected. Does it matter whether the last dugong or sea turtle was indigenous or not? These Native Title exceptions are more about human "rights" or traditions than about protecting animals from atrocities, or extinction. Extinction is forever, no matter who ultimately causes it. The laws protecting wildlife should be consistent, whether the killers are Japanese or indigenous Australians.

    Milly O Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 6:57 PM

  • Please think carefully before you vote. The LNP are the only ones to vote for as they will stop the senseless killing of dugongs and sea turtles. Just think of the incompetance of Peter Garrett and his cronies.

    Gaz And Andrea

    Gary Seymour Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 9:42 AM

  • These poor defensless creatures rely on us for there existence.Without it they will perish. You cant rely on the labour government to do anything. They are a bunch of ostriches. Vote Liberal and you will be helping these majestic creatures.

    cheryl Friday 20 August, 2010 - 11:08 AM

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