Leaving aside for the moment all the knee-jerk reactions about foxes, such as “They’re introduced therefore must be killed” (aren’t sheep, cattle and gods introduced, not to mention humans?) and “Foxes kill huge numbers of lambs therefore are a serious danger to a farmer’s profits” (there is much debate on how correct this view is, including a study in England which showed that most lamb deaths could be prevented by closer human supervision; and even agriculture departments here admit it is often impossible to show actual cause of death), we are still left with a reasonable assumption that foxes often have a detrimental effect on some animals, including small native wildlife.

(On the other hand, they do keep rabbit populations in check.)

Trying to see that their population does not become too large, therefore, can be defended.

But what about the use of poison? Poison is indiscriminate: it may target foxes, but kill native carnivorous animals and birds as well as scavengers; it can also kill pets, as has happened to many a luckless dog who managed to get out and go exploring.

It has even been known to kill people.

It may kill part of a local population of targeted animals, but the effect is only temporary.

But above and beyond all these arguments is the plain and simple fact that poison is horribly cruel, and if administered to a so-called domestic animal would result in cruelty charges being laid.

How do poisoners sleep at nights, knowing that some poor creature at that moment is drawing its last agonised breath after hours of excruciating agony?

Do the poisoners simply refuse to face up to the responsibility for their actions, or are they so sadistic that they really don’t care?

The use of poison on foxes is banned in the UK: possibly they are more civilised than we are.

The most commonly used poison here is 1080. Here’s a description of what happens:

Are you still feeling comfortable?

If you are a decent person with a modicum of imagination, I apologise for these distressing details; but I think it is well and truly time for Australians to be aware of what is happening.

There are alternatives, ranging from fertility control to use of guardian dogs like Maremmas.

There is no question about it: a civilised person ought to abstain from causing pain to a living creature that is acting out its natural behaviour patterns.

An economic stimulus package by stealth may be in the wind.

We may be forced to replace our gas appliances with electric as the price of gas is forced upward, due to an artificial shortage created by enormous overseas exports and gas to electricity generation.

Evidence of this is AGL proposing to generate electricity at Dalton, rather than supply gas to Australian households and industry.

Excessive exporting of gas from easily accessed conventional fields is also encouraging the dubious coal seam gas industry.