Dear Senators Woodley and Stott Despoja, I am aware that you both put forward recommendations in parliament (12/5/1998) that (1)the Federal Australian Senate commend Haigh's Chocolates for contributing proceeds to the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation of Australia (ARRFA); (2) the Federal Australian Senate notes that the ARRFA works to protect endangered species as well as controlling rabbits which destroy Australia's environment; and (3)The Federal Australian Senate calls on: (i) all Australians to support the Easter Bilby, and (ii) the Government to support the work of ARRFA. I list your full recommendation as reported in Hansard at the bottom of this letter. I am disappointed that you both made these recommendations and would like to point out the following. The ARRFA are a body that is involved in supporting the development and spread of deadly diseases of mammals across Australia (Myxomatosis and RCD). Are you aware that there are no vaccines to protect any other animal against infection by RCD other than rabbits? Are you aware that 4 out of 5 major calicivirus groups already infect humans? Are you aware that Myxomatosis infects more than one species than the European rabbit? Both diseases are considered to have jumped species before they "switched on" to become deadly viruses of the European rabbit. RCD is suspected of being a calicivirus and is an RNA virus. RNA viruses have high mutation rates and thus are more likely to cross species lines. No one can guarantee that RCD won't cross species lines and yet Australian scientists wish to spread RCD coated baits across the land for any animals to eat. I cannot believe you made such a recommendation as to promote an organisation such as the ARRFA which promotes the spread of deadly disease in Australia. I can only believe your combined ignorance on the facts of both spreading deadly diseases and the ARRFA led you to make such recommendations in parliament as you have made. The September 1996 report on RCD published by the BRS which was meant to prove that RCD was safe to other species showed blood level readings in non-rabbit species of RCD antibodies so high as to render the non-rabbit species "positive" to RCD (i.e. blood level readings greater than 30%). Many animals had pre-bleed levels of anti-body that were high (PRIOR TO being injected with RCD). This may have been due to the insensitivity of our testing or due to cross reactivity with another like virus that already exists in Australia. The 1996 RCD report raises more questions than it sets out to answer. Parts of Australia may have a rabbit problem but may I remind you that the most damage to the Australian environment has been done by introduced white European settlers, their land clearance techniques and their continuing rape of this country. Rabbits alone are not targeted in Australia as being the only "pests". Every creature that comes into conflict with humans is being vilified. Galahs are being clubbed to death in South Australia's Port Lincoln, parrots are being poisoned or killed by farmers in Victoria, fruit bats are killed by orchardists and kangaroos are slaughtered in their millions. The deliberate spread of deadly diseases in Australia puts at risk any vulnerable species whom such diseases may decide to infect. No monitoring of animals in Australia occurs to look for RCD infections of other animals and humans and in my state when animals become sick from some unknown agent, wildlife carers are asked to foot the bill to find out what the problem is (as in the recent case of kestrels who died screaming here). Wildlife carers are often short of funds and the attitude of pathologists is not to test birds for RCD (unless asked) because RCD is a disease of rabbits. Such attitudes mean that it will only be by chance or dead bodies when people discover viruses crossing species. This has been shown to be the case overseas when caliciviruses have been accidentally found in species not before believed to be infected by such viruses. In Australia, authorities will not wish to look for RCD infection in other species because they will face shame and discredit if such a cross species transmission is located. Overseas scientific accredited reports already state RCD/RHD as infecting hares which are a different species to rabbits. Anecdotal evidence suggests some native Australian animals may have fallen victim to RCD but of course no one has done any tests to look for the said infection (as far as I am aware). If rabbits are a problem in parts of Australia there should be only two options as far as I am concerned. Contraception (and NOT viral vectored contraception because many viruses are capable of crossing species lines) or shooting by licenced shooters. These methods of control would be specific to rabbits (although any method of contraception would have to be proven species specific to rabbits and not able to progress through the food chain to predators). Lastly, since you both have recommended indirectly that diseases of the European rabbit be spread in Australia, I draw your attention to the fact that millions of Australians own pedigree and cross breed domestic rabbits. All rabbits in Australia are European rabbits and able to be infected by the deadly diseases recommended by the ARRFA. This includes my pet rabbits. Yet we are allowed a vaccine for RCD but not a vaccine for Myxomatosis. I petition you both, that since you have chosen to support the spread of diseases that kill the pets of Australians, that you both put forward a recommendation that a vaccine for protecting pet rabbits in Australia against Myxomatosis be immediately licensed for use by the NRA. Why should pet rabbit owners have to watch their pet rabbits die of horrible Myxomatosis because a mosquito bit their rabbit? How do you explain to a child that there is no cure and no vaccine to protect their floppy eared mate against a disease that the Australian government chooses to spread? Are you aware that the AARFA will be looking for deadlier strains of these diseases? I hope that you both take up the issue of a Myxomatosis vaccine for Australian pet rabbits. Even vets I speak to and my own local doctor (who has a pet rabbit) feel that the Myxomatosis vaccine should be made available in Australia as it is overseas. I have seen people pay hundreds of dollars to try and save a pet rabbit from death by Myxomatosis. So far, there is NO CURE for Myxomatosis and inevitably the pet rabbits die. Finally, if you are so sure that such diseases as the ARRFA promotes are species specific to rabbits, I suggest you join me in offering yourselves up to be human test subjects to be given a good dose of live RCD virus. Dr Frank Fenner, an associate of the AARFA set a precedent for human testing when he admitted having injected himself with Myxomatosis years ago. The scientists involved in the RCD program don't seem so keen to do likewise so perhaps we should take the lead in this matter. The results would be interesting and I feel John Anderson, John Howard and others should also offer themselves as human test subjects since they chose to approve RCD. Dr Brian Walker (CSIRO) stated that no guarantee could be given that RCD would never infect any other species than the European rabbit yet both you Senetors recommend support of such an organisation as the ARRFA who seeks to spread such disease. I hope you will consider taking up the issue of the Myxomatosis vaccine for our pet bunnies and that you reconsider your appraisal of those who seek to import and spread a deadly incurable haemorrhagic disease of mammals (and possibly new viruses or altered strains) into Australia such as RCD. For information on the ARRFA and the Rabbit Control Handbook visit http://www.csiro.au/communication/rabbits/rcd_book.htm For information on Myxomatosis, RCD and information on RCD provided by myself and overseas scientists see my website Rabbit Information Service at http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm To read letters from overseas scientists from around the world explaining the dangers of spreading RCD http://users.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/sci.htm Kind regards, Marguerite Wegner (Mrs) (Hansard extract below) Motion (by Senator Woodley, at the request of Senator Stott Despoja) agreed to: Australian Senate Hansard for 12th May 1998 COMMITTEES RABBITS That the Senate-- (a) notes that, on 2 April 1998, Haigh's Chocolates launched the 1998 Easter Bilby; (b) commends Haigh's Chocolates for contributing proceeds to the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation of Australia (ARRFA); (c) notes that the ARRFA works to protect endangered species as well as controlling rabbits which destroy Australia's environment; and (d) calls on: (i) all Australians to support the Easter Bilby, and (ii) the Government to support the work of ARRFA. *************************************************** Australian Senate Hansard for 8th April 1998 NOTICES OF MOTION Endangered Species Senator STOTT DESPOJA (South Australia--Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats)--I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the Senate-- (a) notes that, on 2 April 1998, Haigh's Chocolates launched the 1998 Easter Bilby; (b) commends Haigh's Chocolates for contributing proceeds to the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation of Australia (ARRFA); (c) notes that the ARRFA works to protect endangered species as well as controlling rabbits which destroy Australia's environment; and (d) calls on: (i) all Australians to support the Easter Bilby, and (ii) the Government to support the work of ARRFA. =========================================================================== /`\ /`\ RABBIT INFORMATION SERVICE: _ _ (/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30, Riverton, Western Australia 6148 (.\_/.) )6 6( http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm \6 6/ >{= Y =}< VEGETARIAN PAGE =\ /= /'-^-'\ http://www.geocities/RainForest/4620 /O\ / (_) (_) / \ ( | . | U U ) | |} Pity the human race its illusion of permanence (| |)/ \_/^\_/ w'-'w ===========================================================================
