Drumlines must go back
Labor must immediately reverse its decision to remove drumlines from north Queensland beaches after a surge in shark sightings, the LNP said today.
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Eight beaches have been forced to close because of sharks since the Palaszczuk Labor Government removed drumlines from the Great Barrier Reef marine park just three weeks ago. Only 15 beaches in the park were closed because of sharks in the whole of last year.
The surge in shark reports show that drumlines protect swimmers and Annastacia Palaszczuk must put them back in the water now. The Palaszczuk Labor Government's decision to remove the drumlines is putting swimmers in serious danger. The LNP's position is clear - put people before sharks and put the drumlines back.
Annastacia Palaszczuk is gambling with the safety of swimmers and it has got to stop."The LNP has given Labor a solution to get the drumlines back in and they need to implement it.
- LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Industry Development and Fisheries Tony Perrett.
Shocking secrets
The dark secrets of horse-racing have repeatedly outraged the public. Now, Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir and two others have been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.
Weir has been charged with nine offences including three counts of "engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying" of a racehorse.
Police cameras earlier this year captured the men repeatedly shocking the horse with an electronic device called a "jigger".
Weir has already been banned from racing for four years, but that was all racing officials did. Let's be clear - such offences are animal cruelty and must be prosecuted by law enforcement, not kept from sight in internal industry reviews.
This is why the charges are so important. Weir trained the 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance, who was recently featured in a movie glamorising racing. News reports say Weir was widely regarded as Australia's leading horse trainer before the police raid.
We have to wonder what the rest of the industry is doing if this is what is being reported about the "leading" trainer. Victoria's Minister for Racing stated "I understand people having a degree of cynicism about racing or, indeed, any kind of sport where there is money to be made from betting."
To which we can only add - or any industry where animals are treated as objects, valued only for profit. As well as tormenting the winning horses, we know that about 13,000 "failed" horses are sent to slaughter each year. If you hate animal cruelty, please avoid the races.
- PETA Australia special projects coordinator, Desmond Bellamy.
Girls find voice
Earlier this month, the world celebrated International Day of the Girl (October 11). In many ways, 2019 has really been the year of the girl. We've seen girls finding their voice and campaigning for change.
Plan International Australia, the charity for girls rights, surveyed Australian girls about social justice and 91% said they were eager to lead positive changes for the future. Girls want to be heard and when they are given the chance, they do amazing things. Just look at the impact Swedish teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg has had in just a year.
Unfortunately not every girl gets the chance to be heard. Right now, millions of girls are being married as children. Forced out of school. Half the world's population is being held back by inequality, but it doesn't have to be this way.
That's why we have launched our Give Equal campaign, a fun campaign every Australian can get behind to help us to lift girls out of poverty so they can realise their potential and pursue their dreams. And a better now for girls, means a better future for everyone.
- Plan International Australia CEO, Susanne Legena.
** If you would like to write a letter to the editor, you can email it to derek.barry@northweststar.com.au
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