Swooping magpies should be spared – Greens
SWOOPING magpies should be fair game even when they draw blood, the Greens say.
South Australian Greens MP Mark Parnell wants changes to local laws that allow people to kill any magpie that attacks.
Under section 54 of the 1972 National Parks and Wildlife Act, it is lawful for anyone to kill any Australian magpie that has attacked or is attacking any person.
This makes the birds and certain poisonous reptiles the only native animals that may be killed without a permit, Mr Parnell said.
He said although swooping magpies could be frightening, this was an inappropriate approach to take in the 21st century.
"Magpies are unlikely to be in such a dangerous mood that immediate action to kill the bird is required,'' Mr Parnell told ABC radio.
"People usually know where they are.''
He said he would seek to remove the provision that allows anyone to kill a "problem'' magpie.
If a magpie, such as one nesting near a child care centre, had to be removed, it should left up to wildlife authorities, he said.