2022-05-24
In a bid to protect Victoria’s native birds, animals and our pets, the Greens are calling on the Victorian Government to ban the public sale of second-generation rodent poisons.
These poisons can be bought off the shelf at places like Woolworths and Bunnings and unlike first-generation rodent poisons, are poisonous to native eagles, owls, and other wildlife when they prey on rats and mice who have ingested these poisons.
That’s why the Greens will today be moving amendments to the Government’s Agriculture Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 that would ban the general sale of second-generation rodent poisons in supermarkets and hardware stores, while still allowing some use for farmers where needed.
Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said banning the sale of dangerous poisons in supermarkets and hardware stores was a simple fix that would help protect countless native birds and animals around the state, as well as pet cats and dogs who eat poisoned rats and mice.
Sandell added that Victoria was in the midst of an extinction crisis and that it was important for the Government to do all it could to protect our precious animals.
The issue of unsafe poisons is currently receiving increased public attention as New South Wales faces a mouse plague for the second year in a row.
In Europe, second-generation rodent poisons can’t be bought off the shelf and require a special licence. Farmers are still able to access them, but regular households do not have access to these dangerous poisons.
The amendments moved by the Greens today will be the first of their kind in Australia and would bring us into line with Europe and the latest research about the impact of second-generation poisons on wildlife and pets.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell MP:
“Every year, countless native birds, mammals and pet cats and dogs are poisoned due to eating mice and rats that have ingested dangerous poisons you can buy at the supermarket. These dangerous rat poisons should not be for sale at supermarkets and hardware stores, and many countries have already banned them.
“At a time when Victoria is facing an extinction crisis, we should be doing all we can to protect our precious animals. I urge the Labor Government and the Upper House to support the Greens amendments to ban these poisons and protect our precious wildlife.”