I've just seen a news program regarding the banning
of domestic rabbits in Queensland. It appears that
you are not allowed to have a pet rabbit in that
state even if its been desexed, microchipped, had
all of its injections, et cetera. Could someone
living in that state explain why this is so?
What's the reasoning behind this?

Thank You.

Rabbits are a feral noxious animal & therefore MUST be banned. Any introduced species can turn feral & destroy life & habitat in Australia. Take Cats, pigs, goats, Cane Toads & islamists for instance. Would you sanction the Introduction of American Fighting Dogs or any other such animal? even desexed.

Why is it that rabbits are banned only in Queensland
if they are such a noxious breed? Also we're talking about
domesticated rabbits here - not ferals. And domesticated
rabbits are not a problem in any other state. Neither are
other domesticated animals - who are looked after
properly.

Domesticated Animals get loose, people set them free when they don't want them any more. Take Wild Pigs, Wild Dogs, Wild Horses, Wild Camels, Wild Goads, Wild Cats, Wild Horses, Wild Cattle, Wild Deer, Carp, Cane toads & Islamists for instance.

They destroy Australian native wildlife & habitat that's why you don't introduce more invasive species to you State or Country.

Foxy sweetie, as a school boy in Bathurst, I used to make quite a bit of money, by schoolboy standard, digging rabbits out of their huge damaging warrens, for their meat originally. Butchers shops sold more rabbit than chicken in the 40s/50s. We ate quite a bit of it, & mum did a pretty good job of stewed or baked rabbit.

Later, after Myxomatosis was introduced everyone stopped eating them, but the skins were still worth enough to have us kids continue getting them. You didn't even have to ask landholders, you were welcome anywhere with mattock & shovel & rabbit dog, provided you did not have a gun.

Why does Queensland ban them? Well it could have been old Joh was smart, but I think it predates him. In the words of the song, "on the sure understanding that this kind of thing can happen", they are banned because they will escape & go ferrel if permitted. There were strains of mixed race domestic/ferrel rabbits around in my school days.

If you had seen the huge damage rabbit warrens were doing back then, you would agree with the ban, & buy the kids guineapigs.

Dear Jay and Hasbeen,

What I don't understand is that despite the bans in
Queensland there are apparently virtually thousands
of people keeping rabbits as pets - and none the worse
for wear. So what does the ban really achieve except as
a fund-raiser for the state - and punishment of people
who look after their pets? How can rabbits be a nuisance
when they're properly cared for, desexed, domesticated,
et cetera. The same in that case could apply to any pet -
why aren't others banned?