The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to set up a fishing-rod amnesty for the many unwanted fishing rods from their Little Anglers Kit program.
The Greens say their MPs' offices will now be available as drop-off points for parents who want to get rid of the rods their children received through the program.
The program was launched last year, and has seen grade five students across the state receive free fishing rods in an attempt to get kids outdoors and interested in fishing.
However, the program has already seen local wildlife injured and killed.
This includes the tragic story of Kevin the black swan, who resides at the beautiful Edwardes Lake in Reservoir.
Over the past few years Kevin has lost two of his partners to maulings by dogs. But most recently, he lost his partner Evie due to infection caused by a stray fishing hook in her foot.
This story is made more tragic when you know that black swans in fact mate for life.
The Greens say parents who are rightly concerned about the impact this program will have on their local wildlife are welcome to drop off their free fishing kits at any of the state MPs' local electorate offices.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said these rods were killing and injuring more and more wildlife, and many kids and parents didn't want them.
She said to protect swans like Kevin and his new - and hopefully lifelong partner - Whitney Houston, the government needed to set up an official amnesty as a matter of urgency.
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:
"How many partners will precious Kevin have to go through before this government acts?
"Parents are rightly concerned about the impact these fishing rods are having on their local wildlife, and don't want them anymore.
"The Greens are happy to be a drop-off point so we can hand these wildlife weapons back to the government, until they set up their own official amnesty.
"We should be teaching Victorian kids about protecting wildlife and preserving their natural habitat."
