Bribie Island woman Sue Mariner secures 12,000 petition signatures for pet

A southeast Queensland island resident, often spotted by locals with her pet bird on her shoulder, has been told by a local council to give him away or face $2800 in fines — so 12,000 people have flocked to her aid. SEE THE VIDEO

A retired Bribie Island woman embroiled in a battle with her local council to keep her pet parakeet says she can hardly believe more than 12,000 petitioners have signed on to her cause.

Sue Mariner spent $1100 to purchase Bud from a Sydney pet shop three years ago and moved to Bribie Island 10 months ago, looking for a sea change.

However after some noise complaints when Bud would squawk and speak to lorikeets and crows in the backyard whilst caged, a Moreton Bay Regional Council ranger arrived on her doorstep.

The ranger told Ms Mariner that in accordance to the council’s animal laws, that she had 14 days to rehome Bud or be slapped with a $2875 fine.

Council’s animal laws for bird ownership state, “a person must not keep a large parrot, cockatoo, galah or other similar size bird on an allotment of 1000 sqm or less”.

According to the council, Bud is classified as a large bird, despite Alexandrine Parakeets being commonly classed as a medium-sized bird.

Sue Mariner and Bud in Sue’s Bribie Island backyard. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

Ms Mariner and 12,000 others believe the animal laws are inconsistent, as they permit residents to keep 40 pigeons or three chickens on the same sized block of land.

So far, 12,374 people have signed a Change.org petition, calling on the council for a more compassionate and “fair” approach to bird ownership, which would also allow Sue and Bud’s friendship to continue.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ms Mariner said when she heard of the sheer number of supporters.

“Oh my goodness gracious me, that is astounding.

“It only started two weeks ago and to get that many people in two weeks.

“I've had over 500 comments on a Facebook post I made.

“There's quite a few of those 500 people who own birds in Moreton Bay.

“They were surprised about the rules and they hadn‘t even looked up Moreton Bay’s rules.”

Council’s legal team has since advised Ms Mariner, following media coverage and the success of the petition, that she now had three months to re-home Bud or pay the fine.

Sue Mariner’s Alexandrine Parakeet, Bud has become the centre of a battle with Moreton Bay’s local council. Picture: Contributed

“It’s up to the council whether I keep him or rehome him and trust me I’m not rehoming him after all the effort I've put in,” Ms Mariner said.

”You have companion dogs, he’s a companion bird.

“Why should I be the odd man out when there’s hundreds of people in the area who own the same birds?

“In the 12 months I had him in Sydney, not one person complained and he was outside in a cage on a less than 1000 sqm block.

“It's just very stressful thinking about what or what isn’t going to happen.”

A Moreton Bay Regional Council spokesperson said council legally could not comment on the personal circumstances of residents, their animals or their enforcement history.

Sue and Bud go everywhere together, both in the home and out in public. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

“Council’s Animal Management Local Laws are designed to regulate the keeping of animals in the region, which includes mitigating noise nuisance to neighbouring properties,” spokesperson said.

“Many large parrots are known to be raucous and loud with piercing screeches and screams.

“As a result, council does not permit large parrots on properties that are 1000 sqm or less.

“Council regulates based on complaints.

“We have fielded multiple complaints from residents about large parrots in the past whereas complaints about other smaller birds such as pigeons are comparatively far less frequent due to their quiet nature.

The Change.org petition to save Bud from being re-homed has amassed more than 12,000 signatures. Picture: Change.org

“If a resident is issued a compliance notice for contravention of a local law, they have the right to apply to the CEO for a review of the decision.”

Sue takes Bud everywhere on her shoulder — around the house, driving the car and going into town.

“It’s ridiculous the rules, it’s gone beyond a joke,” she said of the laws.

“It’s like having a dog, dogs bark.”