Dear Cash for Containers Supporter,

NOW IS THE TIME TO SEND A LETTER TO YOUR PREMIER!

After years of campaigning we have arrived at a very critical point. 

A few weeks from now (on 24 August) state and federal environment ministers will be meeting to decide on whether Australia should have a container deposits scheme.

State cabinets will be deciding their government’s position within a matter of days. 

Your letter to your state Premier is needed to help give us the best chance. 

You can send one via our action page, or better still personally write a letter to the Premier and your local Member of Parliament.

Many thanks,
Jeff Angel

National Convenor of the Boomerang Alliance of 21 environment groups

26 July 2012

www.boomerangalliance.org.au


PS: You may have seen the beverage industry’s misleading advertising calling a deposit system a ‘tax’.  We are up against well-funded opponents!  Your donation will always help:  Donate here

* donations are received by the Total Environment Centre which is managing the campaign funds on our behalf

Indian mynas (Acridotheres tristis) have again been spotted on the island – this time at the Nelly Bay terminal building. While plans are underway to control this small group of invaders, Islanders and visitors are asked to contact MINCA if they are aware of, or discover, the birds elsewhere.

Indian mynas were introduced into Australia from India in order to eat insect pests in market gardens. From there, they were introduced to north Queensland to control insect pests in sugar cane crops – as was another pest, the cane toad. Since then, they have become a huge problem for both humans and native birds and wildlife.

For humans they damage fruit crops, are noisy and smelly and can spread mites and disease. Getting in to waste bins, they can spread litter and scraps.

But for native birds (including rosellas and kookaburras) and small fauna (such as sugar gliders) they are more of a problem, as they compete aggressively for tree hollows in which to nest and bred, can ‘mob’ other birds, and destroy the eggs and chicks of other species.

Mynas are listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the World’s 100 Worst Invasive Species, and one website claims that they were voted the most unpopular feral animal in Australia.

MINCA is aware that Council is working to keep Magnetic Island myna-free, but if you see them around, let us know and we will pass this information on. Please note that while mynas are feral pests and can legally be destroyed, cruelty to all animals is illegal.