FEDERAL Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker had more than flying foxes in his sights at Maclean yesterday.
The MP wants a flying fox colony removed from near Maclean High School and is intent on seeking a solution in Federal Parliament.
Yesterday he slammed the Maclean Flying Fox Working Group as a 'bureaucratic con'. He described Federal Page MP Janelle Saffin as a fence-sitter who had not been genuine with the high school's P&C committee.
Mr Hartsuyker went on the attack at the launch of his petition supporting the removal of the Maclean bats.
Mr Hartsuyker told a small group of media and residents outside the Maclean High School gates that a private member's bill was being drafted. If passed it would provide emergency powers to the Federal Minister of the Environment for the removal of the bats because they posed a public health risk.
"This petition will send a clear message to the Minister and will provide the Clarence Valley with a voice," Mr Hartsuyker said.
"It is outrageous that our school students are exposed to diseases of the third world. Co-existence is not working, disperse the bats now."
Now Mr. Hartsuyker knows full well that there has never been a case in this country where the vulnerable protected species the Grey-headed Flying Fox has directly transmitted Hendra or Nipah viruses to humans. There is of course a vaccine available for the Lyssavirus which is transmitted by a bite/scratch from an infected mammal, but the incidence of this virus is extremely rare and there have only been two cases in the whole of Australia.
He also would be well aware that an properly constructed application to the NSW Government would allow a limited period bat dispersal license to be issued as has happened in the past (it would be interesting to discover just who has been advising Maclean High School P&C to go down the rather torturous joint application route it has taken).
Yet the lack of rampant disease in the playground and an easier alternate route to bat dispersal permission does not stop our doughty, disaster peddling Coffs Harbour politician from holding forth - thereby making Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin appear very balanced and genuinely constructive in comparison.







