In 1994 the Bureau of Resource Sciences, of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, put out a book called "Commercial Use of Wild Animals". This is the Federal Government¼s master plan to turn Australian Wildlife into a commercial product. They are already doing it:

"Incorporating indigenous animals into agricultural production makes good economic and environmental sense. They can yield unique products for lucrative niche markets. Developing industries based on indigenous species, native species, is one strategy for building the competitive advantage of a nation's rural and associated manufacturing industries."

"Surplus offspring of galahs and long-necked tortoises, which are valuable overseas, could be harvested and reared on farms. This would be the precursor to ranching more valuable species such as Major Mitchell Cockatoos."

In December 1996 the Federal Government Report "Sustainable Economic Use of Native Australian Birds and Reptiles" was released. The Report forecast a plan to export dozens of wild native species, including goannas, cassowaries, bustards, tortoises, geckos and frogs. These animals would also be bred on ranches.

It is already happening. In mid-1996 the television program "60 Minutes" featured an interview with Northern Territory Crocodile Farmer Graham Webb. Mr Webb makes a living by capturing, breeding, slaughtering and exporting Australian native wildlife. His prey includes crocodiles, Magpie Geese ("800 eggs last year - grown, fattened and killed") Flying Foxes ("Pacific Islanders will buy - they have a taste for them and in some countries have eaten them to extinction") Mr Webb also has his eye on Australian Cockatoos. ("They are worth $10,000 on the export market.")