Australische Jennifer Parkhurst blijft vechten voor wet in Queensland om Fraser Island dingo's te beschermen

I have no future and no past, says dingo protester

01-11-2009 The Noosa Journal, Australia


NOOSA: More than two months after government officials stormed her home and seized her possessions in a dawn raid, dingo protection campaigner Jennifer Parkhurst says she’s still in ``limbo’’.

``It feels like I have no past and no present because they’ve taken all of my gear, and no future because I don’t know what will happen,’’ she said.

Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) staff seized the photographer’s camera gear, computer equipment, videos and photos in the dawn raid, which it claims was an investigation into commercial activity and illegal dingo feeding.

The Rainbow Beach woman has led a campaign against the state, accusing it of mismanaging Fraser Island dingoes and allowing ``out of control’’ rangers to illegally kill and haze the dogs claims backed by Noosa MP and shadow environment minister Glen Elmes.
During the raid the state seized years of documentaries into alleged dingo mismanagement. Mr Elmes claims it was the state’s attempt to cover up wrongdoing.

Ms Parkhurst said this week DERM officials claimed they could not copy and return her computer gear because there was too much if it. High-profile civil libertarian Terry O’Gorman earlier called the situation ``unacceptable and oppressive’’.

``They say because there is such a vast amount of material it will take them a long time,’’ Ms Parkhurst said.
``It has destroyed my life I don’t mean to whinge but it has, especially because they were so aggressive,’’ Ms Parkhurst said.

The former whale watching tour guide was this week recording a new `save the dingoes’ song the first project of the newly incorporated association made up of Aboriginal elders, Fraser Island residents, scientists, conservationists and Noosa locals including historian Robyn Wells, established to fight for dingoes’ protection. Recorded by the Badjala Wondari, the CD will be sold online, at the Island’s Aboriginal Cultural Centre and in CD stores.

``The first move is to raise funds so that we can try and get legislation passed in Queensland to protect the dingoes, particularly on Fraser Island,’’ Ms Parkhurst said.

(Bron: http://noosa-journal.whereilive.com.au/)
(Bron foto: Noosa Journal)