Burke and Bourke Shires share a bit in common: similarly spelt and very remote shires in the far north west of their state.
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Burke Shire in Queensland (named for Robert O'Hara Burke who explored in the region in the 1860s) is 2000km north of Bourke Shire in New South Wales (named for 1830s NSW governor Richard Bourke).
But it is not surprising that people mix them up (a problem nearby Mornington (Island) Shire shares with faraway Mornington Peninsula Shire in Victoria.
That can be a big problem when there is controversy as there was earlier this week when the New South Wales Bourke Shire shot dead pound dogs due to be rescued over Covid-19 infection fears.
Bourke Shire Council killed the pound dogs to stop a shelter in Cobar rescuing them as they believed the travel wouldn't be permitted under pandemic restrictions with NSW in total lockdown.
However the shooting of the dogs has been condemned by animal rights activists and international celebrities including British comedian Ricky Gervais.
Many angry at the killing have not stopped to check the council name before going on the attack.
As a result Queensland's Burke Shire Council has copped abuse on social media and emails over the matter which has nothing to do with them.
""These things do happen, people are always in a hurry and don't do enough research and we get criticism on issues we have nothing to do with," Burke Mayor Ernie Camp told the ABC.
He urged people to check they have the right address before they pressed that send button.
The New South Wales Office of Local Government is investigating the Bourke animal shooting.
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