To All VAC affiliates and your members.
Please find attached the Victorian Avicultural Council Inc. response to the survey ”Have your say” which has to be responded to by this Friday 17th September.
It is imperative that all Aviculturist respond against the proposal .
Please use the attached response to complete the survey and ask your members to do the same. 
The VAC IS STRONGLY AGAINST the recommendation and believe that it will have a negative impact on aviculture. 
Thank You for your support.
Regards
David Renshaw
Secretary

Web: victorianaviculturalcouncil.com
Facebook: Victorian Avicultural Council
To All VAC Affiliates and their members
13th September 2021
Re: Registration Scheme for Native and Exotic Live Birds
The Federal Wildlife Trade Office (WTO) within the Department of Agriculture, Water and
Environment contracted KPMG to conduct an independent review on the regulations of the export of
native and exotic live birds. The Independent review has come about after Federal Government
received several allegations in relation to the export of native birds between July 2015 and November
2018. The link to the full report is below:
file:///C:/Users/marey/AppData/Local/Packages/microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_8wekyb3
d8bbwe/LocalState/Files/S0/4/Attachments/kpmg-native-and-exotic-bird-export[3828].pdf
ThinkPlace consultants, a global company that work with governments on regulatory change, have
been engaged to review options for a “National Registration Scheme for Native and Exotic Live Birds”.
Part of Thinkplace scope is based around 5 points:
• Effects on Conversation and Biodiversity
• Economics of implementing and operating a scheme (cost relevance v’s benefits to the
government)
• Bio Security
• Effects on Compliance (illicit trade/dark trade)
• Animal Welfare
Such a scheme would require individual birds of all species listed under the CITES convention to be
registered with the governing body. Primarily this includes all parrot species, both native and exotic
(except for Budgerigars, Cockatiels and Indian Ringnecks), plus CITES listed finches and other genera.
The VAC is strongly against this recommendation and believe that it will have a negative impact on
aviculture in the following ways:
• The average Aviculturist will find it a burden to maintain participation in a registration
scheme and will keep their birds illegally opening up the risk of fines and legal proceedings.
• Aviculturists will stop keeping species on registration which would jeopardise the viability of
many Native species currently in Aviculture.
• A vast number of Aviculturists will withdraw from the hobby.
• An extremely small number of Aviculturists are interested in Import/Export so the scheme
has no relevance nor benefit to the majority.
• Many natives, generally those at most risk within the wild, are already registered within
State legislation and will be burdensome should they need to be registered within two
schemes.
The VAC also notes that the previous NEBRES scheme failed due to it being unviable and we see no
difference with this scheme.
Thinkplace wanted to survey all aviculturists but were not aware that an estimated 90% are not active
in any formal club/branch or group. Most, if not all, of these non-club members will not be aware of
this survey or for that matter this whole process and will therefore be impacted without any prior
knowledge of the proposed scheme. Hence it is very important for you to pass on this information to
everyone that keeps any avian species.
The Survey is open to the public until the 17th September 2021 and the VAC implore you to visit the
website: https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/registration-scheme-for-native-and-exotic-live-birds and
spend approximately 30 minutes of your time and use the above information to answer all questions
to show that any registration scheme is not in the best interest of Australian aviculture.
If you have any questions or would like clarification on any point please contact the VAC secretary.
Regards
David Renshaw,
Secretary
VAC
0428 518 646
renwood2@bigpond.net.au

Good Morning All, please note the July meeting will be held tonight for all affiliates, please contact the secretary if you have not yet seen the invite and Zoom link
Topic: VAC Meeting
Time: Jul 26, 2021 07:30 PM Australia/Melbourne
Join Zoom Meeting

In May 2020, the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change announced a comprehensive review of the Wildlife Act. To inform the review, an independent expert advisory panel was appointed by the Minister. The Panel will prepare a report for the Minister with their recommendations by the end of 2021. The Panel is calling on all members of the Victorian community to have their say on what changes to the Act are necessary to establish a modern, best practice regulatory framework for wildlife. By providing feedback, we can help inform recommendations for modernising the current Wildlife Act. 

Submissions are now open. The VAC is currently compiling a submission, on behalf of  Aviculture and affiliated clubs, that address all of the questions in the Issue Paper. However we are encouraging all members of the Avicultural community to complete their own submission to help inform the recommendations. Alternatively you can contact your local Bird Club and VAC representative to give recommendations for the VAC submission.
Submissions close on 9th June 2021. 

For more information on the review click here:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/independent-review-victorias-wildlife-act-1975

Submissions can be completed here: 
https://engage.vic.gov.au/independent-review-victorias-wildlife-act-1975/survey

On Sunday the VAC held its AGM. All positions were declared vacant and then the elections were held. All positions have been updated under the CONTACT US tab.  A motion to allow two affiliates of one club to hold a position on the executive was voted on and passed, the changes to the constitution will be made and come into affect at the Nov 21 AGM. 

Last night the VAC hosted its September meeting via Zoom and although for some it was their first time using this format after a few teething problems the meeting went really well.
Some of the items discussed were:
Wildlife licenses are due September 30, 2020. Today)
Expo dates have been collated for 2021.
Care Guides on various species in PDF for handouts at Expos
Approval of Wire Cages, not compulsory, at VAC approved Expos
Public Liability Insurance
Native Species Legislation
VAC Constitution
Discussion on changing the classification of wildlife species to domestic
Golden Plains Shire Draft Law 2
Draft Report on importation of psittacine birds
Updates of our Web Site and Facebook page.