Hon Robin Chapple questions the government on goat farming on pastoral leases. The government acknowledges the potential threat to rangelands but is exploring managed commercial farming with monitoring systems.

AnsweredQoN 1209Legislative Council
Asked
25 March 2002
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

GOAT FARMING
(1) What is the present status of farming goats on pastoral leases in Western Australia? (2) Is the Government considering allowing the commercial release or the commercial farming of goats on pastoral leases in Western Australia? (3) If yes to (2), is the Government in possession of research or advice indicating that goats no longer pose a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems? If so, will the minister table such research or advice? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
(2) Is the Government considering allowing the commercial release or the commercial farming of goats on pastoral leases in Western Australia? (3) If yes to (2), is the Government in possession of research or advice indicating that goats no longer pose a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems? If so, will the minister table such research or advice? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
(3) If yes to (2), is the Government in possession of research or advice indicating that goats no longer pose a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems? If so, will the minister table such research or advice? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
(1) The Pastoral Lands Board currently has a policy of managing domesticated goats within fenced areas. Feral goats are currently declared animals under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976. (2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
(2) Yes. A process for managing prohibited stock, including goats, is presently being investigated by the Department of Agriculture in liaison with the Pastoral Lands Board. (3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.
(3) The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries advises that there is no research data available that categorically states - nor is there ever likely to be 100 per cent certainty - that commercial farming of goats no longer poses a threat to the integrity of rangeland ecosystems. The critical issues are that goats and all other animals be managed with regard to total grazing pressure; and that there be appropriate management mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the rangelands. The Government has several layers of inspection and monitoring systems in place. For example, the pastoral lease inspection project and the Western Australian rangeland monitoring system are run by the Department of Agriculture, which in turn presents information to the Pastoral Lands Board for ongoing management on a lease-by-lease basis. These inspection and monitoring systems are updated from time to time to acknowledge land use changes.

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