Vegan Australia campaigns for the rights of all animals to be respected. We usually do this by promoting veganism and by highlighting in particular the suffering of farmed animals who are used in the food industry.

This time we would like to ask you to help protect the rights of wild animals by participating in the current review of the Victorian Wildlife Act, which has not been reviewed for over 45 years.

You can make your voice heard!

Submissions close on 30 June 2021 and you can visit the Independent Review of Victoria's Wildlife Act 1975 website for information, a fact sheet and the issues paper. You can either follow the links to leave a general comment, answer the questions or upload a submission.

Let the inquiry know that you care about animals.

Some points you may like to make include:

• An end to lethal 'Authority to Control Wildlife' permits.
• An end to the commercial 'Kangaroo Harvest Program'.
• A ban on recreational shooting of wildlife (e.g. waterbirds and quail).
• Direction of funding to training and resources to facilitate harmonious non-lethal interactions with wildlife.
• Use of technology such as sonic repellers to prevent wildlife colliding with vehicles.
• The establishment of an independent office of animal welfare.
• A longer statute of limitations on breaches of the Wildlife Act and harsher penalties.
• Funding for wildlife rescue and care.
• A ban on barbed wire and enforcing the use of wildlife-friendly fencing and netting.
• A regulatory requirement for every Planning Scheme to carefully consider and provide for conservation of wildlife habitat and corridors, to ensure new developments do not negatively impact wildlife.

Even a few sentences will add to our strong collective voice.

The animals need us now more than ever.

Here is the link again:

• https://engage.vic.gov.au/independent-review-victorias-wildlife-act-1975

Thanks to Save the Kinley Kangas for this article.

• Independent Review of Victoria's Wildlife Act 1975