Australian Greens comment on Senator Leyonhjelm's Parliamentary speech about keeping native animals as pets

Australian Greens comment on Senator Leyonhjelm's Parliamentary speech about keeping native animals as pets

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens environment spokesperson, said:

"Senator Leyonhjelm's speech was an attack on our national parks, which are obviously essential to both fauna and flora conservation, and must be preserved for future generations.

"Suggesting that we can stop the our extinction crisis by keeping native animals as pets, while dismissing national parks flies in the face of the scientific evidence.

"The suggestion that the only way to save native wildlife is to domesticate it is ludicrous.

"The key threats to native wildlife are habitat loss and climate change and Senator Leyonhjelm has voted for the repeal of our carbon price, which was bringing down emissions."

Senator Lee Rhiannon, Australian Greens animal welfare spokesperson, said:

"It's understandable that people want to get up close and personal with our beautiful native animals. The best way to do this is to contact your local wildlife rescue service about volunteering.

"Native animals have specific care requirements and their carers require training and permits.

"Native animals have very different requirements to dogs and cats, which have been domesticated for thousands of years.

"Practically, it would be very costly and difficult to police people taking native animals from the wild to keep them as pets.

"Money would be much better spent on habitat preservation and wildlife rescue services," Senator Rhiannon said.