[FONT="]Hi All – sorry it is such a long post but I hope it puts things into perspective![/FONT]
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[FONT="]1. I am not exactly sure where to start to respond to much of what has been said on this thread. First let me give a big thanks to those who have personally seen me or otherwise contacted me to pledge their support because in my mind this is just so critical. A particular mention must go to Greg, Jamie and Mike, because it takes more than one to initiate and pursue this and they are the team that has played a big part in getting this topic and idea this far. To those who have questioned where the idea of a federal body for reptile keepers is at and why it has not gone further, I also thank you both for your continued enthusiasm and the reminder. I do apologise for letting so much time slip by. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]2. You may say ‘everything is going along fine’, so why do I need to support the initiative of a federal representative body. It is no longer just a possibility but is now actually a likelihood that things we do not view as necessary, or even things that impinge on our enjoyment in the hobby, will be placed on us by Governments or bureaucrats (and others). These people have no interest in us even having reptiles (in some states). Pet keepers of all types are being targeted by lobby groups that will not rest until there are no longer animals used by humans (at the most extreme end of the spectrum) or until there are no reptiles in captivity (the bit that will directly affect us). If allowed, they will do this by ensuring that the restrictions imposed on reptile keepers are so demanding and restrictive as to make them unworkable. Such animal rights groups already have the ear of Governments and some possibly even hold positions within them. [/FONT]
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[FONT="]3. Sorry if this all sounds far-fetched and not possible but if you doubt the power that these fanatic animal activists can wield, then have a look at an ABC program on the small family and community run abattoir in Victoria. OK, not reptile keepers but sabotaged by the same groups that could quite easily have its sights on reptile keepers. (//www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3858413.htm). One has to wonder just how much sway animal activists already hold over government bureaucracies to achieve that sort of result. Similarly, in NSW, the bureaucracy has pushing through the mandatory cage sizes and arrogantly ignored input from what may well be the most accomplished and experienced reference group of reptile keepers put together in this country. There appears to be no rational justification for that. The question is, who was pushing it and why? And one for the future... what will be next? [/FONT]
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[FONT="]4. We need an active lobby group that can take on Governments and make them accountable through negotiation, in the first instance, and legally where Governments and their departments err. It really doesn’t take much for Governments to become conciliatory and negotiate outcomes with interest groups when the interest group is large, organised and prepared to stand up for itself. As our group gets bigger and more organised, Governments would then seek out the organization for input before they actually do something that would affect us. By seeking us out as a large and powerful group they would do more than just pay lip service as they do currently because it would be in their interest to do so. As Paul Keating the former Prime Minister said – ‘trust self interest because it is a winner every time’. As the organization gets bigger and more and more people keep reptiles, Governments see a voter base that is worth pandering to in many instances. Only with the powerful bargaining chip of a large organisation behind us can we effect and direct change, rather than being subjected to it and completely voiceless as we are currently.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]5. We are disjointed in both geography and ideology, we are mixed as to what we consider is good and bad. For example one post on this thread is apparently saying that QLD has it so good that there is no point in pursuing anything that may jeopardize the status quo, and almost in the same breathe another is saying import export issues are a concern, QLD included! As a group we struggle to agree in even simple matters. There are almost as many views as there are people discussing it and we seem very good at hindering each other, be it to do with points of view or personalities or simply because we are feeling digruntled and want to share our misery around. We are also getting hung up on detail. What is a hybrid, should you have it, how did you get an animal from there? In the overall scheme of things, this might be interesting but it is also detail that could be addressed as part of a code of practice that we write and taken on board by Government, but to spend all this time and energy on it here only prevents us from progressing the discussion onwards to look at things that do matter – us having a voice! In my mind it has always been the bigger picture – the benefit to the HOBBY (or business or enterprise – whatever you want to call ‘keeping reptiles’).[/FONT]
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[FONT="]6. We have a diverse hobby and becoming more so which means that there will be more issues but they become more diffuse because there are fewer people interested and involved in each of the aspects of the hobby. We also have a fair number of state based reptile groups and this is growing annually. We also have an incredibly diverse set of skills in the people who keep reptiles and are passionate enough to want to make a difference. Unfortunately this all means not a jot if we are not cohesive and united in the way we present ourselves. Meanwhile the Government just laughs out loud at this because while we are infighting (and they may be fuelling it for all I know) we go nowhere, the laws become tighter (cage sizes as an example), the animal activists have more say at the state and federal level as to what we can and can’t do (yes they are organised and powerful and becoming more so) and we can’t do a thing about it because we don’t have a voice[/FONT]
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[FONT="]7. A post by OWZI said: “I voted for a political party in the last election but didn't agree with all of their policies. I would hope every private keeper would be 100% behind having an Australian herp body, even though there is no way everyone will be pleased 100% of the time. At least we would have a voice!” Everyone accepts this idea as it is how our system works. Even if you didn’t vote for the team that was elected you still pay tax, you still go to work or school or whatever and life goes on and you hope that the team you either voted for or didn’t vote for (ie: the one in power) does the best for the country they can and makes your life better, increases the quality of life, and the country as a whole prospers. In my mind this was exactly what we were talking about. The idea that not everyone will like everything that a Parent reptile keeping body will say or do, but if there are enough checks and balances put in at the administrative and general levels to ensure that the VOICE of the general herp keeper is heard and the direction and concerns of the general herp keepers are addressed at whatever level is needed then the group would serve an incredibly important function for its members. It would also negate the sentiment expressed by Sean_l of “What’s to say that the heads of the national body don’t take things too far”. Right from the start of this process I pointed out it will be a long one, not everyone will agree, there will be pitfalls and detractors as well as fervent supporters, but above all that if we do it right we only have to do it once – if and only if there is support from a majority of the herp fraternity who want to make it happen.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]8. Here is where I am at. I along with Greg Miles, Jamie Stewart and Mike Lynch we have bandied this idea around and done the market research to see whether the idea of a federal or Australian reptile keepers association will float. Will we get it off the ground and is it worth the effort? At this stage the four of us have given it a red hot go and while there are many detractors who say we went about it the wrong way or we are arrogant or we didn’t advertise enough or consult enough or whatever, the truth as we see it is there is not the support that we had hoped. This doesn’t mean there isn’t support because there is and I absolutely appreciate everyone who was willing and still is willing to help make this happen including the young lawyer lady who very early on put her hand up! However I live in Darwin and have spent the better part of 10 years fighting to get Oenpelli pythons into captivity. I was been brow beaten and told why it can’t happen from both Governments and the general public (this still continues). After achieving permission to captive breed these snakes and do what was seen as unachievable, maybe I was drunk on my own small success and wanted to continue this by giving us all a voice. A voice that would reason with bureaucrats that are set to determine our future as keepers of reptiles, or these same bureaucrats who are being ‘requested’ by animal rights groups to impose ever more stringent regulations on what and how we keep reptiles. We deserve a voice and I am 100% behind us having a voice, however living in Darwin and being many thousands of kilometers from the corridors of power it is probably a better idea to have someone/s at the helm and others that can make things happen by being closer to the power source (reduce costs, improve immediate communication). To this end I am still prepared to help but feel I have given as much money and time to this cause without moving you all into action that I am prepared to do to date and so will continue to pursue and fight for the conservation of reptiles from the tropical north of Australia. I had hoped that we might all come together and fight for a common cause – our basic right to keep reptiles, plain and simple. While I had thought the right to keep reptiles was worth fighting for, it seems that sentiment is not universal – or is it?[/FONT]
Cheers and happy herping
[FONT="]Gavin [/FONT]