WHALE OF A PROBLEM

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 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/nta1993147/s253.html#interest .’

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 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.

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

Friday, January 15, 2010

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2010