Latest news with #GeorgiePurcell
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Doomsday-like scenes' as birds drop dead
More than 200 birds, including native corellas, were found dead outside a shopping centre in Melbourne's south over the weekend in what wildlife rescuers are calling a mass poisoning event. 'Had a traumatic day rescuing birds that had been poisoned,' Michelle Phillips from South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter said. Witnesses described a confronting and distressing scene, with birds falling to the ground outside Springvale South shopping centre and a nearby school playground. 'They literally fell from the sky,' Ms Phillips said. 'Birds were dead or injured on people's houses, nearby parks, under cars.' It's believed the birds – mostly corellas and some pigeons – consumed poisoned feed on Friday, with the deaths continuing over the weekend. By Monday, the clean-up was still ongoing. 'There were over 200 dead, eight alive now at Healesville Sanctuary with autopsies happening,' Ms Phillips said. 'This is one reason that people should not feed wild birds, there is plenty natural food around.' The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the Animal Justice Party and calls for urgent legislative reform. 'This is yet another example of sickening animal cruelty that continues to happen in Victoria,' Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said. 'I am disturbed to think that someone may have deliberately caused these doomsday-like scenes in suburban Melbourne where birds are literally falling from the sky. 'I hope that authorities throw every resource at finding those responsible for this heinous crime. 'The Allan Labor government must honour their commitment to modernise our state's archaic wildlife protection laws to deter this abhorrent behaviour and ensure serious penalties can be applied when perpetrators are caught.' Corellas are native to Australia and protected under Victorian wildlife laws.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Birds fall from sky in mass death event in Melbourne suburb
More than 200 birds, including native corellas, were found dead outside a shopping centre in Melbourne's south over the weekend in what wildlife rescuers are calling a mass poisoning event. 'Had a traumatic day rescuing birds that had been poisoned,' Michelle Phillips from South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter said. Witnesses described a confronting and distressing scene, with birds falling to the ground outside Springvale South shopping centre and a nearby school playground. 'They literally fell from the sky,' Ms Phillips said. 'Birds were dead or injured on people's houses, nearby parks, under cars.' It's believed the birds – mostly corellas and some pigeons – consumed poisoned feed on Friday, with the deaths continuing over the weekend. By Monday, the clean-up was still ongoing. 'There were over 200 dead, eight alive now at Healesville Sanctuary with autopsies happening,' Ms Phillips said. 'This is one reason that people should not feed wild birds, there is plenty natural food around.' The incident has drawn strong condemnation from the Animal Justice Party and calls for urgent legislative reform. 'This is yet another example of sickening animal cruelty that continues to happen in Victoria,' Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said. 'I am disturbed to think that someone may have deliberately caused these doomsday-like scenes in suburban Melbourne where birds are literally falling from the sky. 'I hope that authorities throw every resource at finding those responsible for this heinous crime. 'The Allan Labor government must honour their commitment to modernise our state's archaic wildlife protection laws to deter this abhorrent behaviour and ensure serious penalties can be applied when perpetrators are caught.'
ABC News
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
"It has never been harder to make a living in the creative sector." What's gone wrong in Australia's arts capital?
For decades, the assumption has been that if you're from one of the smaller towns in Australia and you want a career in the arts, you'll have to move to Melbourne. But, according to a new report tabled in the Victorian parliament last week on the cultural and creative industries, "It has never been harder for Victorians to make a living in the creative sector". Georgie Purcell, who headed that inquiry, shares the lessons she's hoping the government (and governments around Australia) can learn. And La Mama Theatre survived a fire and the pandemic, but has had to pause performances this year to try to figure out how to build a more sustainable future. CEO Caitlyn Dullard explains what's led to that pause and what the future might look like — for La Mama and for independent theatre across Australia. Our track of the week is Bawuypawuy by Drifting Clouds, chosen by Sara Glaidous. Stories mentioned in the headlines: NSW government unveils $380m arts package Miles Franklin shortlist announced Man Sits On and Breaks Crystal-Encrusted 'Van Gogh' Chair in Italian Museum Before Fleeing Globally recognised Lockhart River Art Centre on verge of collapse Rudi Bremer, Teresa Tan, and Daniel Browning win mid-year Walkley for art journalism
Gulf Today
23-06-2025
- Gulf Today
Outrage after cat fur clothing sold in Australia
Clothes made of cat fur were discovered being sold in Victoria despite the Australian government's promise to crack down on the practice, an advocacy group said. An investigation by Collective Fashion Justice and Australia's Animal Justice Party found that children's vests containing cat fur were sold while being labelled as fake fur or sheep wool. Forensic testing revealed the vest sold by fashion brand Suttons UGG was made of domestic cat fur and rabbit fur. However, the vest was labelled as "100 per cent Australian sheepskin or wool". Similarly, two beanies with pom-poms sold at a Queen Victoria market in central Melbourne were found to be falsely labelled as 100 per cent "acrylic". A test by British fibre analysis firm Microtex revealed they were made from fox and raccoon dog fur. The discoveries have led to calls from animal rights groups and the Animal Justice Party for a statewide ban on the sale of all animal fur. The Australian Fashion Council, earlier this year banned the use of fur, wild-animal skins, and wild feathers from runways. "Every Victorian would be shocked to know that they could go to the store and accidentally buy something made from cat fur, when they may have a cat at home themselves," Collective Fashion Justice founder Emma Hakansson said. Suttons UGG, which has retail stores in Sydney and Melbourne, in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, admitted the label on the vest was "wrong". A spokesperson told the broadcaster they had been informed by the manufacturer that the vest was made from a "kind of special fur", and the company could not "100 per cent confirm" whether that included cat. The Australian government banned the import and export of cat and dog fur in 2004. In 2020, a Consumer Affairs Victoria investigation into the mislabelling of fur products found that every product independently tested by the taskforce was wrongly labelled. Shortly after, fur sellers were issued warnings. Georgie Purcell, the Animal Justice Party MP for Northern Victoria, has called for the sale of fur to be banned. "The message from the community couldn't be clearer - fur is out of fashion. Whether it's cat, dog, rabbit, or fox - the one constant is that it's all cruel," she said. "The time for regulation is done. The only thing left to do is to completely ban fur, just as other jurisdictions around the world have already done." The Independent
New York Post
23-06-2025
- New York Post
Shoppers horrified after learning ‘sheepskin' vest actually made of cats
A children's vest advertised as being '100% Australian sheepskin or wool' has actually been found to contain the fur of two domestic cats, sending shockwaves through Aussie shoppers. The findings were released by fashion advocacy group Collective Fashion Justice, following an investigation by British fiber analysis firm Microtex. The incident has led many to call for a crackdown on the sale of animal fur – with some suggesting it be banned altogether. 'This vest has one cat skin at the front, another cat skin at the back, as well as rabbit fur' Shoppers have been left horrified as a number of fur pieces sold in a Melbourne shopping center have been found to have been mislabeled, with one children's vest in particular containing the fur of two domestic cats. The vest, sold by fashion brand Suttons UGG – not connected to UGG or UGG Since 1974 – was made of domestic cat fur and rabbit fur, despite being labelled as '100% Australian sheepskin or wool'. The tests also found that two beanies purchased from Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market had pompoms containing fox and raccoon dog fur – though they were labelled as being acrylic. According to founder of fashion advocacy group Collective Fashion Justice, Emma Hakansson, this was extremely concerning. 'This vest has one cat skin at the front, another cat skin at the back, as well as rabbit fur,' she said. 3 A children's vest advertised as being '100% Australian sheepskin or wool' has actually been found to contain the fur of domestic cats. Collective Fashion Justice Animal Justice MP for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell said that the seller responded saying they were told it was a 'special kind' of fur – which was ultimately cat. 'Consumers could be out there, buying this, and then going out wearing domestic cats,' she said. Queen Victoria Market said it was 'unaware of mislabeled fur items' being sold at the market. 'We do not condone the sale of any goods of this nature and work with traders and relevant authorities to resolve specific situations when they are brought to our attention,' a QVM spokesperson told the ABC. 3 'I took this fur vest to a meeting with the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and shamefully, it is not the first time that the Animal Justice Party has brought the issue of cat fur being sold in Melbourne,' Purcell said. Collective Fashion Justice 'We don't want reform' According to Hakansson, while this may be a new concern, this issue has been going on for years, citing numerous occasions where fur has been mislabelled illegally since their investigation began in 2021. In 2020, Consumer Affairs Victoria also launched an investigation into the mislabelling of fur products, which found every product independently tested by the taskforce was wrongly labelled. 'People have a right to know what they're buying, and to be able to shop in alignment with their values,' she said. 'Every single time we have sent fur for testing the lab has confirmed it was illegally mislabelled and this has been true for years now.' 3 A number of fur pieces sold in a Melbourne shopping center have been found to have been mislabeled. Instagram / @collectivefashionjustice Ultimately, the two confirmed they were calling for an overarching ban on the selling of fur in Australia – with the issue well past a need for reform. 'I took this fur vest to a meeting with the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and shamefully, it is not the first time that the Animal Justice Party has brought the issue of cat fur being sold in Melbourne,' Purcell said. 'They need to get their shit together and work out who is responsible in order to address this issue. 'We don't want reform. We know that all fur is cruel, whether it comes from a fox, a rabbit, a raccoon dog, a dog or a cat.'
