MP Warren Entsch denied access to Department of Environment on bird smuggling issue

Leichhardt MP and longtime birdkeeper Warren Entsch says the Government is dropping the ball on an illegal trade earning criminals millions and putting Australia’s unique wildlife at risk.

Leichhardt MP and longtime birdkeeper Warren Entsch says the federal government is dropping the ball on an illegal trade earning criminals millions and putting Australia’s unique wildlife at risk.

Mr Entsch has long been an advocate for measures that could help control the illicit trade of exotic birds in and out of Australia.

However his most recent attempts to set up a meeting with top bureaucrats from the Department of Environment have been blocked by the office of the Minster for the Environment, Tanya Plibersek.

The Far North is home to a number of rare and beautiful bird species that are at risk of illegal export or would be severely at risk of extinction from introduced disease.

One such species is the golden-shouldered parrot which is estimated to only have a population of between 780 to 1100 left in the wild.

Male golden shouldered parrot poses on an ant's nest at Artemis Station, 350km north west of Cairns. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Other species that are often the target of collectors include red tailed, glossy, and palm cockatoos, as well as mutated specimens of more common birds such as galahs that are bred to display colours not normally found in the wild.

Mr Entsch said regulations in Australia have been weakened ever since the National Exotic Bird Register Scheme was abolished back in 2002 and he has been fighting for its return ever since.

Mr Entsch says the abolishment of the scheme basically opened the door to smuggling.

“There are dozens of birds that did not exist in Australia before the register scheme was abolished.”

Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), near Lockhart, Queensland, Australia. Photo: JJ Harrison, Wikimedia commons

“Most of the specimens coming in these days are transported in specially crafted egg vests and it is a huge trade.”

Director at the National Threatened Species Institute Daniel Gowland said that the danger of smuggling to Australian bird species was two-fold.

“The biggest current threat is that of bird flu which can really rip through populations of native species as well as through the poultry businesses,” Mr Gowland said.

The value of Australian species on the international black market can drive criminals to target our species for export.

“Australia is land of the parrots, with a huge range of species that are going out worth mega bucks and once these species make it out of the country it is incredibly hard to trace them.”

Mr Entsch revealed the staggering value that some rare specimens could fetch.

“People don’t understand the value, some of these hyacinth macaws for example are $75,000 for a single bird,” he said.

A Hyacinth Macaw can fetch up to $75,000 in Australia. Photo: Hank Gillette, Wikimedia Commons

“A galah may fetch $40 in Australia but overseas it could be worth thousands,” Mr Gowland said.

Mr Entsch said the issue runs across party lines through previous governments and ministers.

“We have pleaded with governments to take it seriously, and they continue to do nothing.”

In a statement from the office Minister of Environment, Tanya Plibersek, a spokesman stated; “The minister welcomes representations on issues in her portfolio from all members of parliament.

“She has not received any on illegal wildlife trade from Mr Entsch.”

Originally published as MP Warren Entsch denied access to Department of Environment on bird smuggling issue