Cattle workers fear for future

CONCERN among Cape York stockmen is growing as D-Day for thousands of feral cattle in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park approaches.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers are expected to begin shooting the beasts in the park early next year to end all mustering work now occurring.

That work, according to mustering contractor Damien Andrews, has given a purpose to young stockmen from nearby Hope Vale and Mr Andrews fears they will now return to the community and boredom will lead to mischief.

“They are probably going to struggle – it’s all they know, their country,” he said.

“The young fellas from Hope Vale community are getting out and that’s getting them out of trouble.”

Mr Andrews’ worries were echoed earlier this month by Rinyirru Aboriginal Corporation acting chairman and traditional owner Les Harrigan.

“Their passion is cattle. It’s a good source of income ... and it gives them the privilege of working on their own country,” he said.

Mr Andrews has also criticised the environment department for allowing a cull at a time cattle prices are high.

“We’re catching more cattle than what are breeding there, so if they just let us go with it, we’ll get rid of them ourselves without having to shoot them,” he said.

But the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service remains committed to the cull and on Friday met traditional owners and stockmen to organise the final six weeks of mustering of the year.

“QPWS estimates that there are less than 1000 cattle remaining on the park,” a department spokeswoman said.

“These cattle are the focus of the final mustering activities being undertaken by traditional owners.”

The Australian Conservation Foundation and AgForce both support the cull.

“The remaining inbred and potentially diseased feral cattle are causing as much environmental harm as feral pigs,” said Andrew Picone, the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Northern Australia officer. traditional