I am writing to register a complaint with respect to Collinsville State High School P&C’s fundraising venture, ‘Collinsville Bacon Busters’, due to be held on 7 August. I have recently become aware of this concerning event.

The idea that a pig hunting competition (the central activity of a broader fundraising day) has somehow been deemed at a school level to be an appropriate activity for a fundraiser quite frankly beggars belief for a number of reasons.

Firstly, RSPCA Australia policy opposes hunting for sport: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/rspca-policy-c10-hunting-of-animals-for-sport/

Its opposition to this activity should have been noted by the school in determining the suitability of this fundraiser. Developing students who have respect for the expertise of an accepted authority such as the RSPCA should surely be an educational goal. However, this fundraiser shows blatant disregard for the views of Australia’s foremost authority on animal welfare.

Here is more pertinent information from RSPCA on recreational hunting of pigs in Australia and why this competition is completely problematic: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/is-hunting-feral-pigs-with-dogs-legal-in-australia/. In particular, please note the following from this document: “Recreational hunting of pigs does not have any significant effect in reducing the agricultural or environmental impacts of these animals. Pig hunters do not apply their activities in a coordinated manner nor do they target their efforts in ways that would reduce impacts, and pig hunting results in unnecessary and considerable suffering for both pigs that are hunted and the dogs that are used to hunt them.”

It is of great concern that there are opportunities for students from the school and other young people to participate themselves in the pig hunting competition. There are prizes in the Under 12 (primary school students) and Under 17 age categories (see mention in the attached registration form that is available online). Point 15 of the registration form states that dogs, rifles or bows may be used to capture pigs. I'm deeply concerned that trivialising the animals’ deaths (regardless of their ‘pest’ status) by holding tasteless competitions such as ‘Babes and Boars’ and ‘Longest Tusk’ is likely to reduce the children’s respect for animals. This competition is certainly not assisting in the development of a nuanced understanding of the vexed issue of introduced species in this country.

Of further concern is the possibility that a young person could perhaps cause prolonged suffering to an animal, that this competition also has the potential for young people themselves to be injured?

Finally, on the Education Queensland website there is a checklist for schools and P&C associations to consider when evaluating the suitability of a proposed idea for sponsorship and fundraising: https://ppr.qed.qld.gov.au/attachment/sponsorship-and-fundraising-checklist-for-schools-and-parents-and-citizens-associations.pdf. Point 3 asks whether the proposal is consistent with the ethos of the department and the education of students. (One assumes it could hardly be so.) Point 3 is then elaborated by stating that arrangements that are violent are not acceptable. This statement would seem to provide clear evidence that the proposed fundraiser should never have been approved at the school level in the first place.

The killing of sentient animals (regardless of anyone’s views on this activity) is unmistakably a violent activity. And the fact that students are encouraged by way of prizes on offer to participate in the violence makes this fundraiser all the more repugnant and unsuitable. It surely does not align with Education Queensland standards.

Please urgently intervene and prohibit this event from being conducted as a school fundraiser.