These have been a long time coming. We could have had them more than 18 months earlier, had we been willing to accept the offer at the time of a review and considerations of additional animals every five years. The WAHS membership voted against accepting this and the committee then set about galvanising as much political pressure as it could. This include direct lettters to the minister, strategic discussions with the shadow minister, letters and personal approaches to local members and pressure applied directly to the department. We did not write the letter for member but provided an examplar of how to go to go about. This was supported by a long list of logical arguments, but members were also encouraged to add their own. One particular committtee member brought significant pressure to bear through his committe sanctioned but self-funded FOI requests.
While it certainly felt like we were losing most battles, we did in fact win the war. DEC gave an unequivcal undertaking, amongst other things, to provide a continous process of assessment with respect to the extensive original list of suggested additions to the keeping list. This is occuring groups of six submitted species at a time and we should be able able to expect the second submission of six to be assessed by now or close to it , and a submission put to the minister for approval and gazetting in the very near future. The committee had to work hard to contain the negativity of the cynics out their and "I know better than you do" brigade but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and all I can say is i hope those indivioduals like the tast of 'humble pie' because that is soon to be on the menu for them.
Please be aware that the allocation to categories at this stage is both conservative and governed by factor beyond those stated in the regs. Timr and increased availability will ultimatley see a more appropriate categorisation of those species deserving of it.
The final point point I would like to make is that if were not for the efforts of WAHS, absolutely nothing would have changed! All herp keepers in WA, members or otherwise, can thank that society for all expansion and improvements in their hobby. Well done!
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