Canberra Liberals environment spokeswoman Nicole Lawder has come under fire for suggesting that a protected bird species is an “imported pest” that should be “managed or eradicated.”
Environment Minister Simon Corbell has asked Ms. Lawder “to declare which native species she wants to wipe out next” after she wrote to the Minister complaining about the native bird the common koel.
The Canberra Liberals MLA wrote “I have been contacted by constituents in Tuggeranong, specifically Bonython, Kambah and Chisholm in relation to an imported pest, the Common Koel.”
“Are you able to provide me with information on the ACT Government’s plan to manage or eradicate these pests?”
The common Koel is a migratory species that is known for its loud bird call.
The species is a summer migrant to Canberra but was rarely seen in the territory before the 1980s.
Mr. Corbell said the bird was protected under the ACT nature conservation act and the government had no plans to manage or eradicate it.
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