People power saves QLD turtles and dugongs.

Animals Australia supporters and caring people across Australia have won a landmark victory for turtles and dugongs in Far North Queensland. They will now be protected under the Animal Care and Protection Act thanks to you — and spared from brutal hunting methods.

In March this year, campaigning by Animals Australia and animal advocates, Colin Riddell, Bob Irwin and Rupert Imhoff led to two hard-hitting reports on ABC’s 7.30, exposing terrible cruelty to turtles and dugongs in ‘traditional’ hunts in far north Queensland. Footage revealed turtles slowly butchered while still alive and dugongs dragged behind speed boats until they drowned.

Over several years, thousands of outraged Animals Australia supporters and concerned individuals have written to the QLD Government calling on them to act. Under this public pressure, the new QLD LNP Government pledged to remove animal cruelty exemptions that had left these animals vulnerable, within its first 100 days in office. This week it honoured that promise, with Agriculture Minister John McVeigh introducing legislation to state parliament to ensure dugongs and turtles are protected by the same cruelty laws that protect other animals. Local Indigenous elders have also shown their support for the decision.

Sea turtles and dugongs subjected to cruel hunting methods, along with other animals that are traditionally hunted such as kangaroos and goannas, all feel pain, fear and distress — regardless of who the perpetrator is. Cultures the world over are now acknowledging that tradition is no excuse for cruelty. This legislation will help to spare turtles and dugongs the worst of their suffering.