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Posted: 2024-11-27 01:29:14

The couple behind internet-famous Molly the magpie has lost a licence to look after the bird.

Molly and canine best mate Peggy gained international fame this year when Molly was seized by officers from Queensland's environment department.

The department said the Gold Coast couple — Reece Mortensen and Juliette Wells — who said they had raised the bird after finding it on the ground as a baby, did not have the required permits to care for native wildlife.

Molly was returned to Mr Mortensen and Ms Wells about six weeks later after a public outcry and intervention by then-Queensland premier Steven Miles.

The bird's return to the couple was contingent on them applying for a special licence, and that they did not profit from the magpie or its image.

Queensland premier Steven Miles with  Reece Mortensen and Juliette Wells and Molly and Peggy

Steven Miles visited Molly after his return to Mr Mortensen and Ms Wells. (Supplied)

Supreme Court Justice Peter Callaghan overturned the granting of that special licence this week, while keeping the names of those who applied for the case private under a non-publication order.

A spokesperson for Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) said the court order was being reviewed.

"In trying to protect the welfare of the bird — which has always been our highest priority — we made an error, and we are currently considering our next steps," the spokesperson said.

"As the matter involves an individual, we cannot comment further at this time."

Sydney-based legal firm XD Law represented the applicants of the judicial review — people who cannot be named due to the non-publication order granted by the Supreme Court.

A dog sleeping with a magpie on it's back

Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen say Molly the magpie has a special relationship with their English Staffordshire terriers. (Supplied: Juliette Wells)

"We became involved when we saw volunteer wildlife carers being pilloried and abused for sticking up for the laws of Queensland preventing wildlife being turned into pets," XD Law spokesperson Jack Vaughn said in a statement.

"The department was given the opportunity to show it followed the proper processes and standards in granting the carer's licence.

"They failed to show proper reasoning for the licence according to their governing legislation."

The social media account run by Ms Wells and Mr Mortensen on behalf of Molly yesterday posted an update to their nearly one million followers, thanking them for their support.

The post claimed "anonymous people" had challenged the DETSI decision to grant the couple the special licence that allowed Molly to return to "a family who love him".

"The decision to grant us a specialised licence has been set aside and is of no effect," the post reads.

A magpie and a dog sit on a deck facing a green yard

The dog and magpie pairing has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. (Supplied: Juliette Wells)

"What does that mean? We are not sure because we have not been advised of the next steps."

In the statement issued by XD Law after Monday's Supreme Court order was made, its client — the applicant of the judicial review — said they had no comment on Molly's future.

"We will not be exposing our members to that violence and abuse again," they said.

"This action was not about one magpie — it was about reinforcing Queensland's wildlife protection laws and the integrity of the wildlife licensing system."

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