UPDATE ON SALES

David White, Secretary of the Mornington Peninsula Avicultural Society  has given a great update on the current situation with the sales. Thanks for your contribution David 

Regarding where we stand with the selling of birds at bird sales/expo's at the moment:
1. Licensed birds:
The VAC has received the Amnesty for wildlife holders to sell licensed wildlife at VAC approved sales this year (as has been happening each year) together with authority for those people to remove their record book and the wildlife from the registered premises.
2. Non-licensed native birds:
Following requests by the VAC to DELWP for clarification regarding the selling of non-licensed native species, DELWP have advised the VAC that Wildlife Regulations 2013 (the regulations) already provide appropriate exemptions. 
Therefore there is no issue in selling licensed or unlicensed native birds at our sales.
3. Exotic species:
Many of you will have heard rumours about what has and hasn't been approved regarding exotics.
The facts are that the legislation has NOT been changed. Following the meeting held with Minister Pulford, the VAC & the C&CBFA (Canary & Cage Bird Federation of Australia) have been in constant contact with the department advisors regarding a request for an EXEMPTION from S96 of the Domestic Animals Act in the mean time.
On the 1st of March, a DRAFT of the proposed exemption was forwarded to the relevant groups, including MPAS, for comment. One error (the wrong VAC code of practice for bird sales was attached to the exemption) was identified and this was quickly rectified. The following was received by our club late Friday from the C&CBFA:
The detail of the exemption has now been finalised and will be signed by the Minister shortly. It then goes to the Governor to be stamped then Gazetted and then it's all done. We're advised by the Minister's office that it will be completely finalised by March 10th in time for the Gloster Canary Sale scheduled for March 11th.
It appears that if nothing else goes wrong, we will be back to normal for our bird sales for now.
BUT, the fight is not over, we still need to get the legislation changed otherwise we will be back were we started, so keep pushing your local members.