📣 Update: 100,000 SIGNATURES OFFICIAL! Verbal promises are not enough—what 60 Minutes missed.
Dear Petitioners,
It is officially 100,000 signatures! 🦭🎉
Because of your incredible support, this collective voice has become too loud for the government to ignore. This milestone directly forced our message onto 60 Minutes Australia. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the 60 Minutes team, including Tara and Laura, for highlighting the important conservation facts regarding Southern Elephant Seals and educating the public on Neil's natural behaviours.
However, while the segment successfully showed how dangerous human habituation is, the final broadcast only captured a small window of what actually occurred in our community. To be honest, it was really disappointing.
Having declined more than 18 media requests to protect my own privacy, my sole focus has always been the long-term safety of Neil and other Tasmanian marine wildlife.
While the department’s (NRE) management plan was discussed on the program, it is crucial to clarify the immense community effort that was required to keep Neil safe before his departure:
The Government Acted Too Late: Effective 24/7 care, full overnight security, and crucial road closures were only implemented on Neil's final Monday. This only happened after tireless advocacy from Clarence Council staff, Alison and Emma—whose vital work is still ongoing with a council motion going forward today.
The Community Was Overwhelmed: Before the government stepped in, our small coastal town faced immense pressure. We had over 3,000 visitors in a single weekend, late-night arrivals straight from the airport, and crowds disrupting Neil well after hours. People were truly "loving him to death."
Volunteers Protected Neil: For weeks, front-line protection relied heavily on dedicated local volunteers like Kevin, who spent hours daily directing the public away from the dunes and educating people to keep their distance.
Distressing Incidents: There were numerous documented instances of Neil being closely crowded, moved on by vehicles, or managed with unpadded equipment.
These events prove that despite the department's best intentions, current frameworks were simply not prepared for this unprecedented scale of public attention. This operational gap is precisely why I launched this petition.
On television, the NRE gave verbal assurances that euthanasia is off the table, and Premier Jeremy Rockliff highlighted that public "common sense" is key. But verbal assurances are not a legal safety net. Relying on the public to self-regulate out of goodwill is no longer viable when dealing with a 1,000kg wild marine mammal.
We need clear, legislated boundary distances backed by enforceable financial penalties. Verbal promises can be broken or changed the second the cameras turn away.
Now that the NRE has publicly committed to a structured management framework on national television, we look forward to seeing those words translated into proactive, permanent protections before Neil’s next return. We also hope they will completely refrain from using the stressful management methods we witnessed this haul out.
Neil has now finished his winter haul out and returned to the ocean on his own terms. But he will most likely come back, and he is growing fast.
Reaching 100,000 signatures and still growing proves the world is watching, and we must get these protections in writing before he returns next season.
Our community remains deeply grateful for the overwhelming support of the 100,000 petitioners who continue to stand up for Tasmanian wildlife.
We are not giving up until we get proper boundary lines.
Thanks again for all your support, petitioners. 🦭💙
Stay kind,
Tash