Meddick's Priorities Up A Tree
Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick organised an automated email campaign which flooded the inboxes of Colac Otway Shire Councillors on Wednesday night, at a time when they were attempting to assist their community in slowing the virus spread and fully engaged in providing vital services.
Over 2000 emails were sent in one night over the Colac Otway Shire Council’s decision to disperse grey-headed flying foxes in the Colac Botanic Gardens.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
“It’s disgusting that a Member of Parliament would prioritise some bats over the Council’s ability to efficiently respond to constituents in need during a time of crisis.”
“Businesses are going broke, people have lost their jobs and children aren’t at school, but apparently the most important activity right now for their local Member of Parliament was to flood the inboxes of Councillors who were trying to deliver services to their community in a crisis situation.”
“With little or no help from the State Government, Colac Otway Shire, Richard Riordan MP, local businesses, health workers, the ADF and many others are working hard to provide families with food deliveries, counselling support and many other key services. Meanwhile, one of my Upper House colleagues in this region is focused on jamming inboxes.”
"It is also not as if the Council were doing anything wrong; they were acting to strict protocols of pest control authorised by the relevant department. The Colac Botanic Gardens are a much loved important public space to the Colac community."
"As far as I am concerned, bats are important but people’s lives and livelihoods are the most important."
"Mr Meddick should apologise to the Colac Otway Shire Council and its Councillors, along with the entire local community, who at this stage are doing everything within their power to stop a virus spread, keep people alive and supported."
14 August 2020