Federal Member for Kennedy Hon Bob Katter MP together with KAP State Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter, Qld Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, and Qld Member for Hill Shane Knuth have one last warning to the Queensland Government – Get serious about Bat eradication.
The Katter Party calls follows the release of thousands of Government funded flyers and brochures and warning signage to Doctors surgery’s issuing health warnings and stating the serious risks bats pose to people.
Bob Katter says it’s unbelievable.
“This shows just how backwards the Qld Government are by in one breath warning of the serious consequences of residing near bats and their habitats and fly over zones – yet in the other, still putting bats before people.”
bob katter head“We’ve noticed that a number of local doctor surgeries know the dangers – are not employed by the State Government – and are already doing what they can. There are too many people scared of the politically correct Stormtroopers. As Nth Queenslanders, we’ve got to stand up – the bats must be removed from populated areas immediately,” Mr Katter said.
“Older residents of our towns invariably say they have never seen flying fox numbers like now. Our First Australians had the boomerang, a killing instrument uniquely designed to deal with bats.”
Bob Katter named five fatal viruses that bats and flying foxes carry.
“(1) Lyssavirus, you get it, you die, (2) Leptospirosis, most experienced FNQ doctors would put the fatality figure of this often wrongly diagnosed virus at three or more a year, (3) Hendra Virus, 50 per cent fatality rate, (4) Salmonella; serious but rarely fatal, and (5) SARS, Avian Flu & Nipah Virus have literally killed 1000s of people in countries to our North, both are carried by Flying Foxes.
State Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto says the ignorance on bats had gone on long enough and that the Government seems unable to grasp how desperate the situation has become.
“The Government is not taking the risks seriously. It is appalling. This is one example out of many – in Ingham a bat roost is positioned less than 500 metres from our primary schools and local swimming pool which put our children at high risk to contracting diseases from these animals.”
Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter
Member for Hill Shane Knuth and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter
KAP State Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter’s electorate includes Charters Towers, where recently over 200,000 bats were flying overhead and closed the local child care centre and town swimming pool.
“At Charters Towers there was a population of bats approaching a quarter of a million-That’s around 25,000 bats to each person living in Charters Towers. The impact these animals have on the community is now well documented. Amenities such as swimming pools and public parks have all been forced to close at some stage due to health concerns. We have also seen the local kindergarten forced to close early last year.”
Member for Hill Shane Knuth says that he didn’t want to see more warnings, it’s time for action.
“The reality is we don’t want to hear about warnings, we want to see action for bats to be moved out of the residential areas completely. Bats and people don’t mix.”
sm done - FB bat issues page 14022018
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