I have stopped addressing myself to the people of Bateman's Bay. I now have a dedicated team, and rather than trying to argue in trenches with people demonstrating stubbornly ignorant views, we have raised the stakes. We have engaged with journalists, politicians, lawyers, experts, and various organisations and individuals of influence. Today the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times, and several other publications ran a story on the illegality of Greg Hunt's commitments at the public meeting on 16 May. I know that this story was a result of our campaign because I recognise a few of the words in the article as my own. The article covered the key points I have been raising: Hunt granted an exemption and committed funding during the caretaker period. Hunt granted a national interest exemption with insufficient grounds. He had no legal basis upon which to do those things. Legal action is being pursued. I am pleased to report that 60% of the flying foxes have already left for their winter camps, as expected and advised by experts. Unfortunately dispersal has commenced. At a time when EVERY SINGLE EXPERT has said it should never be done. All experts agree that this dispersal will fail, but a dispersal in winter has the additional disadvantage of putting the pregnant females at risk. I must apologise for the ridiculous comments made by people on my last update, I have only just seen them. As soon as someone says the flying foxes carry histoplasmosis, you can assume that you will be wasting your time in talking to them. Believe me, I've tried. I've done more work on this than my Master's thesis, and have really done my best to inform the people of Bateman's Bay of the actual risks, expected outcomes, and expert advice. I am still hearing about rabies, histoplasmosis and other such nonsense. I feel I have wasted my time. I recommend that you not bother wasting yours. Address yourselves to Labor, Liberal, and Greens MPs. To Greg Hunt. To the shadow minister. To Mark Speakman. To the Eurobodalla Shire Council. To people who may (even if the chance is slim) listen to reason. Apparently demonising science is all the rage with politicians at the moment. Climate change is all a ploy and coal is good for the soul. But we may get lucky, not everyone lives in unscientific Dark Ages. http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/story/3945564/labor-backs-shire-flying-fox-action/?cs=229