2020-08-25
The Greens have called on the Morrison Government to rule out lifting a ban on the importation of exotic parrot species into Australia.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“In the middle of a global pandemic caused by a zoonotic disease, the Federal Government should be banning the trade of wildlife, not making it easier.
“The science is well established on the link between wildlife consumption and the transfer of zoonotic diseases to humans.
“The Minister for Agriculture needs to rule out opening Australia’s borders to captive parrots from overseas.
“Australians should be able to have confidence their government is going to do all it can to protect them from the spread of zoonotic disease, not a fear they’ll be exposed to an even greater risk of the emergence and spread of disease.
“Wildlife trade not only increases the risk of novel disease and pathogens but impacts biodiversity, can cause diseases to be transferred between other wildlife species putting them at risk, drives poaching and trafficking and ultimately fuels the extinction crisis around the world.
“Hundreds of organisations and millions of people across the world are pleading for a global ban on the wildlife trade. The Australian Government should be leading on this issue rather than setting a bad example.”