I read with great concern in the news recently (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-child-taken-a-mother-grieves-20121214-2bfd9.html of the case of a mother with a mild cognitive disability who has lost custody of her 8 year old daughter on the basis of this disability. I was even more dismayed to read that even though there was no evidence that the child was at risk of harm or neglect, the Family Court found in favour of the elderly relatives of her estranged partner. This was despite the evidence pointing to her being a warm, caring and loving mother with a supportive mother of her own and a circle of caring friends. The article states that “The case has deeply concerned lawyers and human rights workers, who believe Rebecca is the victim of an inflexible Australian Family Law Act that discriminates against disabled parents in breach of United Nations conventions protecting the rights of the disabled and children. For some, there are disturbing parallels with the Stolen Generations - the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children forcibly removed by the state because their parents were deemed incapable of properly caring for them.” As the mother of a young child, I can imagine the pain, loss, anger and fear that this mother is feeling, at losing her child over something that she did not ask for and that she cannot change but that has not prevented her from being a loving, caring mother. Our Government should be doing everything possible to keep children in the care of their natural parent/s, and supporting them to raise their children in a loving environment. It is grossly unfair to treat disability as a barrier to parenting, in the same way that drug addiction is treated as a barrier to parenting and even worse to disregard the actual facts of their situation when making a ruling. The Australia Family Law Act must be amended to support parents with a disability and their children and ensure they are dealt with on the actual basis of their case and not on an irrelevant technicality, so that no other Australian family should face such a needless tragedy.

Experts do not agree that plans to cull sharks will reduce shark attacks. “[W]ill culling sharks actually reduce the risk of an attack? The answer is no.…Pre-emptively killing sharks is a response based on emotion rather than of scientific data”, wrote Ryan Kempster, Shark biologist at University of Western Australia, and Shaun Collin, Winthrop Professor at the School of Animal Biology and the Oceans Institute at University of Western Australia1. The Department of the Environment lists nine shark species inhabiting Australian waters as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable and culling plans would not only drastically affect their populations but the surrounding marine ecosystems. In Western Australia, the White Shark (or the Great White Shark) is listed as “rare or likely to become extinct”2 and in 2002, the Australian Government came up with a Recovery Plan to promote the conservation of this species. But now the White Shark it is at great risk because the Western Australian Department of Fisheries has listed the white shark as the main cause of fatal shark attacks WA. Please sign the petition and tell the WA government that to stop plan to cull sharks. Sources: 1 Ryan Kempster and Shaun Collin, “How to prevent shark attacks”, The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/how-to-prevent-shark-attacks-20890, 29/11/13 2 The Australian Government Department of Environment, “Carcharodoncarcharias — Great White Shark”, Biodiversity Species Profile and Threats Database http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64470, 16/07/13 3 The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Recovery plan for the White Shark, http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/recovery-plan-white-shark-carcharodon-carcharias, 2013

This is the prime habitat of the Leadbeater's possum, an endangered species, as well as two species of threatened owl, platypus and lyrebird. The area currently being logged was the only part of the Southern Central Highlands to survive the 2009 bush fires. Quotas for logging were set prior to the Black Saturday Fires, so this is the only area left to log, although it is of high environmental value. Numbers of Leadbeaters are now perilously low. The forest is being logged for paper, which could easily be sourced from plantation timber.

Article showing my dedicated work with Kangaroos in Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-city-of-animal-lovers-20120714-222rk.html. Click on link to view final poll results: http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/canberra-times-final-kangaroo-killing-poll-results-closed-25512/?preview=true&preview_id=748&preview_nonce=0370f2d679 . An abuse of rate/taxpayers money that cost over $200,000, and an abuse of the government and government department's positions, ignoring expert advice outside the government. Please check out http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/?sn=l, http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/protected-native-violent-kangaroo-killing-in-the-act-7-june-2012/. Native grasses are not threatened by the kangaroos, but by human activity, including toxic sprays. ANIMAL WELFARE - Click on the links below, to view kangaroo cruelty and horror. Kangaroos are killed in an extremely inhumane manner. Legally kangaroos killed are required to be killed by a single shot to the brain. there are instances where kangaroos are not killed in this manner. As a result, the kangaroo is shot agonisingly in the jaw, neck or the body, flees in response and will suffer a prolonged and painful death. These joeys are killed often by shooters smashing them into the ground, against tow bars of cars or with a metal pipe or other blunt instrument. Alternatively, when not caught, an out of pouch joey will be left to fend for itself and will generally die of predation, starvation or dehydration.This is not to mention the stress suffered by kangaroos from hearing shots being fired and from being chased down by shooters. Please click on or copy and paste this link into your browser to view more information on Kangaroo abuse and sign as well: http://www.change.org/petitions/chief-minister-environment-minister-greens-party-prime-minister-stop-the-unlawful-violent-killing-of-protected-native-kangaroos ‘....anyone who intentionally tortures a dog or cat is a threat to public safety, and should be dealt with severely," DeSteph said in a statement....DeSteph told ABC News he plans to send the legislation to other state lawmakers and work with national animal welfare groups to get the law introduced across the country. There have been studies that show a connection between animal cruelty and many other crimes, from drug and firearm offenses to battery and sexual assault, according to the Humane Society....’The same applies to Kangaroos and all other animals, the entire animal kingdom, not just cats and dogs.The Government’s proposed Animal Welfare Bill should be citing the same as above to immediately stop the Kangaroo killings to arrest and lock up the Government officials responsible for the Kangaroo killings since 2004-2019.The Animal Welfare Bill cannot be in compliance with the Government,the Government has to be in compliance with it The kangaroo management plan is conjunctional, incompetent, and not based on any scientific facts. The only objects that are causing the destruction of grasslands, woodlands, threatened species and ecosystems are tams staff and their shooters, the cattle they put into all the nature reserves after killing all the kangaroos in 2011 because the grass was too long, and the government that fails to listen to the experts, to end this unlawful violent, unnecessary killing that will drive our protected native Kangaroos to extinction. Click on this link for more information: http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2011/08/04/wildlife-carers-group-wcg-visit-to-callum-brae-nature-reserve-etc-full-5-day-work-experience-student-wes-placement-report-trained-by-wcg-founding-president-nora-preston-4-8-july-2011/?sn=l We require the government department TAMS/TCCS (have changed their name or relevant Dept)authority who deal with applications to kill protected native species, and applications for the native wildlife rehabilitation licence to be removed from TAMS/TCCS or relevant Dept and handed over to Wildlife Carers Group. We require that the Eastern Grey Kangaroos, along with other persecuted macropods and native wildlife to be placed on the Critically Endangered list, AUSTRALIA WIDE. We require changes in the legislations/Acts and policies in the ACT, and Australia wide, to ensure that all protected native wildlife are protected and not be allowed to be killed. Wildlife Carers Group Wildlife Rehabilitation Licence to include FULL TERM REHABILITATION OF SICK INJURED ORPHANED NATIVE EASTERN GREY KANGAROOS, AND ALL OTHER ENDANGERED NATIVE WILDLIFE THAT ARE CURRENTLY OMITTED FROM THE LICENCE. The unlawful entry and stealing of my wildlife from my property by tams, the rspca and the police occurred as a result of me taking the Conservator of Flora and Fauna to court for the unlawful violent killing of the kangaroos/animal cruelty in 2012, to stop the unlawful violent killing and to have the Acts and policies that govern these policies changed. This action against me was more abuse of taxpayers money and vexatious by the government. To see the full reports please click on these links: http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/rspca-selling-stolen-wildlife-belonging-to-wildlife-carers-group-act-greens-party-offer-the-act-rspca-1million-rspca-animal-cruelty-continues-super-trawler-petitions-1912/ Full story on unlawful entry and theft of wildlife, click on these links: http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/unlawful-entry-and-seizure-of-wildlife-letters-sent-to-canberra-tmes-but-not-published-28812/, and follow the other links about tams, the rspca, the chief minister that follow these reports. http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/?sn=l http://wildlifecarersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/wildlife-carers-group-visit-to-antarctica-melbourne-aquarium-competition-ongoing-animal-cruelty-by-rspcamore-211212/?preview=true&preview_id=868&preview_nonce=c1ce95b73f.

As at 2011, at any given time, the RSPCA euthanises 50% or more of the animals which come through their organisation. Some pounds, such as Rutherford RSPCA refuse, outright, to work with animal rescue organisations. There are also privately owned 'shelters' which hold contracts with local councils that, more often than not, will not work with rescue organisations. This means that perfectly healthy and adoptable animals are being killed for no reason other than to 'make room' at the shelters. They claim that many of these animals are not adoptable, however, all too often their criteria for an 'adoptable' animal is so high that extremely few animals meet it which then, in turn, allows them to claim justification for killings. These particular RSPCA's and shelters also refuse to allow experienced animal carers and workers to assess the animals themselves simply because they know that if they allowed that, then they would be forced into actually trying to find suitable homes for these animals. In addition, many privately owned shelters adopt, what can only be described as, cruel practices in dealing with these animals and are not regulated in any way so their inhumane practices continue to go unreported with animals even being hidden from potential adopters, rescue organisations and, in some cases, even the animals' owners and then euthanised. There is no reason why animal rescue organisations, which use volunteers experienced in working with dogs and cats, should not be allowed to rescue/adopt these animals and be able to find suitable homes for them. Animal rescue organisations take extreme care in who they adopt animals to which significantly reduces the likelihood of animals being impounded, lost or surrendered again. ALL RSPCA's and privately owned shelters across Australia should be REQUIRED to work with their local animal rescue organisations to ensure the interest of the animals. That is, after all, what they claim their mission to be.

Because children are being harmed every day by unreasonable, inhumane and cruel decisions and processes in Family Law and child protection which are not child-focussed or child-friendly and without any meaningful consultation with the children involved.

*****UPDATE 2017***** The Tootgarook Swamp, also sometimes called Boneo swamp is a groundwater dependent wetland (fen) found on the Nepean Peninsula in Victoria. It is the largest example left of a Shallow freshwater marsh in the entire Port Phillip bay and Western Port Bay region, at ~650 hectares (According to the Tootgarook Wetland Ramsar Nomination Feasibility Study 2015 BMT WBM for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council) it is worthy of international Ramsar protection. Much of the Tootgarook swamp is inappropriately zoned as residential, and industrial with a large portion of it outside the green wedge. This key area of biodiversity at the urban Growth Boundary is the area most under threat is inappropriately zoned to the north and has been identified in a report (Purnell, C and Herman, K., 2016. Tootgarook Swamp Bird Monitoring Program – Year 2 Annual Report. Unpublished report prepared for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council by BirdLife Australia) as Core range and nationally significant, critical habitat for the Australasian Bittern (EN, EPBC) and a range other EPBC and FFG listed species. The largest accumulations of waterbirds was observed across this particular area of the Tootgarook Swamp. The swamp contains fifteen state, federal, and international protected species of fauna, along with another seven-species listed as vulnerable. The majority of species threatened with extinction in Victoria are wetland dependent. Tootgarook Swamp has so far recorded 159 bird species, 13 reptilian species, 9 amphibious frog species and 12 mammals, including 5 bats, no full survey of the entire swamp has ever been done to show its true value, and much of the current data has been collected during drought time. Though recently the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has made steps to undertake the larger bird and fauna surveys and has undertaken the Tootgarook Wetlands strategy thanks to your support something that we have been heavily involved in and we are continuing to gather data from bird surveys it is one facet that has been yielding results The swamp is also home to at least nine bioregional endangered plant communities. (Update) Though a local ecologist believes up to 24 bioregional endangered plant communities exist within the swamp and updated on ground flora surveys need to be commenced. There had been approximately 80 hectares is marked with (update) no present development proposals we have been successful at VCAT (most recent Nov 2016) with other stakeholders in showing the value of the Tootgarook Swamp. Instead of coming up continually against inappropriate development rezoning is needed. Though within this area the biggest threat the most significant risk to this area, similar to Roe8 in Western Australia is a freeway reservation for the Southern Peninsula section of what is known as Peninsula Link it cuts though the most sensitive area of the entire wetland. Did you know there are only 4% of total wetlands left in Victoria that are greater than 100 hectares , and of the original wetlands in the state we have already lost over 37% in the last 200 years. Of the 100% of shallow fresh water marshes in Victoria, 60% has been destroyed. It has high cultural significance for the Bunurong / Boonerwrung people of the Kulin nation, it’s name purportedly meaning land of the growling frog. High scientific value also exists as pointed out by Sir Frederick Chapman in 1919, Australia’s first nationally appointed palaeontologist and world authority in the field of ostracods (a type of small crustacean), and close companion and co-worker with Sir Douglas Mawson. Sir Chapman personally visited and studied within Tootgarook Swamp where he catalogued numerous fossils and ostropod species not seen anywhere else but in Tasmania showing a link of a land bridge between the two states. The Tootgarook swamp is described by Geologist A. Shugg as “The swamp is a natural groundwater discharge area lying close to sea level” and that “The swamp forms a window to the aquifer through which ground water discharges”. Climate change wise the Tootgarook Swamp is a peat regenerating wetland, the most threatened form of wetland type internationally, as a peat regenerating wetland it is a major carbon storehouse (Blue Carbon), exceeding that of forests. You might wonder, will the loss of a few wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp really make much difference? Well, biodiversity is a complex fragile structure. It may be helpful to think of the ecosystem as a woven carpet, if you pull on a loose thread it might only affect the thread and those closest to it, or it might unravel the whole carpet. Wetlands are threads keeping the ecosystem carpet together and as we pull out more wetland threads the ecosystem begins to unravel causing lots of problems. So help us keep this unique wetland for our biodiversity and future generations, View our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ6effLtymA&feature=player_detailpage or for even more information and photos check out our website http://www.savetootgarookswamp.org A short film was also made by Anthony Kelly for the Peninsular Short Film Festival. While it did not succeed in being selected for the festival, we think it is a beautiful depiction of the swamp and its wildlife. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNuM-YVZgGY&feature=share Mornington Peninsula Shire has also had some short films made in relation to it Bird monitoring program with Birdlife Australia. Birdlife Video 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SCsjhaCZPc Birdlife Video 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZJNIYzv9G8 Or even join our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SaveTootgarookSwampInc?ref=hl

Lipson Island may be more important as a bird rookery than we know. While Centrex's public environment report predicted the colony to be in decline, that was misinformation based on a flawed assumption. It was reported elsewhere as "stable" although the species is generally believed to be in decline statewide. Better sites for future grain export exist, away from sensitive receptors like Lipson Island.

One of the world’s biggest fishing trawlers with a history of over exploiting fish stocks, the FV Margiris, wants to trawl for small pelagic fish – some of the most critical species in our marine ecosystem. Small pelagic fishing around Tasmania already has a bad record. The surface schools of jack mackerel that were once common off southeast Tasmania have not returned after the collapse of that fishery over 20 years ago. The fish are a vital food source for important species like the critically endangered southern bluefin tuna, marine mammals, seabirds and game fish. Trawlers like this not only catch the target species, they also get tonnes of bycatch - unwanted marine life like dolphins, seals and seabirds, that gets thrown back dead. This fishing trawler is the opposite of the fishing activities we need to ensure healthy oceans and healthy communities – we need better valued seafood that doesn’t rely on government subsidies, sustainable employment for local fishermen, science based fisheries management, and no unwanted by-catch. Learn more at http://stopthetrawler.net Follow us on twitter @stopthetrawler

Newcastle's nightlife has not undergone the same transformation as the city's dining and cultural scene. Locals and visitors to our city are limited in their options after dark and recent findings suggest most do not feel safe in the city centre at night. Small bars will give our city's nightlife the personality and vitality that it needs to move beyond a "booze barn" mentality. The City of Sydney has recorded a dramatic fall in alcohol-related assaults since supporting small bars and their working model should be appropriated by the City of Newcastle.

The beautiful 8,000 hectare nature refuge named Bimblebox situated in central-west Queensland is about to get bulldozed to make way for one of the earths largest coal mines. Australia’s mining boom is creating more extensive and intrusive coal than ever before, and the majority of Australians are unaware of this reality. The "China First" project will destroy Bimblebox Nature Refuge to supply energy to Asia for the next thirty years. Locals and conservation groups have banded together to purchase the land that is Bimblebox in a bid to protect it from mining. Resisting the might of the coal industry and the political bodies that back it is a huge job for a small group of citizens; this campaign needs you and those like you to make a stand and appeal to the better sense of those that appear to forget the importance of this nations uniqueness and diversity.

Access to physical bank services is a basic need.