Eden-Monaro voters needed to help end the cruel wildlife trade

The upcoming by-election on the 4th of July is a great opportunity to be a voice for wild animals everywhere and advance the campaign to ban the international trade in wildlife, but we need your help.

World Animal Protection is calling for a global ban on the trade in wildlife at the upcoming G20 Summit in November, and we believe Australia should be leading the effort to secure a ban.

As well as causing immense animal suffering, the trade in wild animals and wild animal products causes diseases like coronavirus (COVID-19) and presents a severe risk to global health. The Eden-Monaro region has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the restrictions that have followed. Small businesses, families, and towns that rely on tourism are struggling to stay afloat.

That’s why all candidates at the upcoming by-election need to voice their support for a global ban on the trade in wildlife. Without such a ban, another pandemic originating from animals is almost inevitable.

Please take five minutes now to email your local candidates to tell them this issue matters to you and ask them to publicly support a global ban on the wildlife trade.

1. Kristy McBain, Labor Candidate: kristy.mcbain@nswlabor.org.au
2. Fiona Kotvojs, Liberal Candidate: fiona.kotvojs@nswliberal.org.au
3. Cathy Griff, the Greens: cathygriffgreens@gmail.com
4. James Jansson, The Science Party: feedback@scienceparty.org.au
5. Riccardo Bossi, Australia One Party/Independent: https://www.messenger.com/t/riccardobosi.page
6. Matthew Stadtmiller, Shooters, Fishers & Farmers: m.me/Stadtmiller4Cootamundra
7. Joy Angel, Sustainable Australia Party: https://www.sustainableaustralia.org.au/contact

Tips for emailing candidates

If this is your first time emailing an election candidate, there’s a few tips below to help your first interaction go smoothly.

1. Introduce yourself and tell them you live in the electorate. It’s important they know that you are a potential voter.
2. Clearly state your position and be as brief as possible. Simply tell them that the trade in wildlife and all the risks this trade creates are of concern to you and ask them to publicly support a global wildlife trade ban. If you’ve been personally impacted in anyway, it’s good to add those details too.
3. Be polite. As frustrating as it can be when politicians don’t take a stand, it’s important that the message be heard. Emails that contain swearing or anger will often be ignored.

If you’re looking for even more ways to help, you could consider calling the candidate directly to follow up on your enquiry. You could also write a letter to the editor of your local paper, explaining why you’re concerned about the global wildlife trade and asking for all candidates to take a strong position and support a ban.

Finally, if you want more ways to be involved, or if you have other ideas on how we can help raise the profile of the global wildlife trade in Eden-Monaro, please email our team at protect@worldanimalprotection.org.au

The Eden-Monaro region has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the restrictions that have followed