Betrayal of the hope of thousands

IT was with deep shock and anger I heard news of the destruction of swift parrot habitat at Tylers Hill. I was among thousands of Australians who responded to an appeal to raise funds for predator-proof nest boxes for these critically endangered birds. They were just arriving from Victoria for this year’s nesting season and it was urgent to have the boxes in position in time. I gave what I could and was thrilled at the generosity of others across the country who flooded the site with donations and messages of support. The target was reached within one day and doubled within a week.

The plight of these birds, and the dedication and ingenuity of the scientists working to save them, touched a chord in Australian hearts. I live thousands of kilometres away and will probably never get the chance to see the swift parrots or their forests. But it absolutely matters to me they are given the best chance to survive and thrive. It is beyond belief one of the very places where this rescue attempt was to be made, and one of the key habitats of one of the most endangered species, has been felled. How can this have been allowed? How can it be justified? What a betrayal of the hope and generosity of the Australian public. Please do not dismiss my concerns because I am not a Tasmanian. I believe all Australians have the right, and indeed the duty, to speak out when they see our national heritage destroyed. This event shames Tasmania and all of us.