❓ Mr. Miles questions the Minister for Environment on improvements to threatened species management since 2009. The Minister details funding, land acquisition, recovery plans, and species reintroduction efforts by the Liberal-National government.
AnsweredQoN 570Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FLORA AND FAUNA — THREATENED SPECIES
MANAGEMENT
570. Mr P.T. MILES to the Minister for Environment:
The management of Western Australia's
threatened species is of particular concern to the community, particularly
younger Western Australians, who ranked it their number one environmental
concern in research conducted by The West
Australian earlier this year. I note that deficiencies in threatened
species management by the previous government were highlighted by the WA
Auditor General —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Carine, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for Cockburn, I did not need to hear from you again; I formally
call you to order for the third time today. Member for Armadale, I formally
call you to order for the second time today.
Mr P.T. MILES : I
note that deficiencies in threatened species management by the previous
government were highlighted by the WA Auditor General in 2009. Given the
significance of WA's rare flora and fauna, can the minister please
inform the house of any improvements relating to threatened species management
made under the Liberal–National government?
MANAGEMENT
570. Mr P.T. MILES to the Minister for Environment:
The management of Western Australia's
threatened species is of particular concern to the community, particularly
younger Western Australians, who ranked it their number one environmental
concern in research conducted by The West
Australian earlier this year. I note that deficiencies in threatened
species management by the previous government were highlighted by the WA
Auditor General —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Carine, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for Cockburn, I did not need to hear from you again; I formally
call you to order for the third time today. Member for Armadale, I formally
call you to order for the second time today.
Mr P.T. MILES : I
note that deficiencies in threatened species management by the previous
government were highlighted by the WA Auditor General in 2009. Given the
significance of WA's rare flora and fauna, can the minister please
inform the house of any improvements relating to threatened species management
made under the Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for
his question. I would be delighted to update the house on what the Liberal–National
government is doing to protect WA's threatened species.
As all members know, WA's
south west is an internationally recognised biodiversity hot spot with its
exceptional diversity of natural species. Also, of 15 national biodiversity
habitats, eight are in Western Australia. Our biodiversity is under threat from
a range of issues, which we need to address. These include feral animals such
as foxes, cats and rabbits, weeds, dieback, salinity, altered fire regimes,
habitat loss and changing climate. There are 750 listed threatened flora, fauna
and ecological communities in WA. Most of these are in our biodiversity hot
spots. I am pleased to report that the Liberal–National government has
made significant improvements in these and other areas in an effort to preserve
our threatened species. As well as significant continued and targeted funding,
the successful breeding and reintroduction of animals, including the western
swamp tortoise, the once presumed extinct dibbler, and the western ground
parrot, our government aims to recover up to 20 threatened flora species in the
wild. Nine critically endangered species have been identified for initial re-establishment
methods, including the spiral-fruited wattle, the cactus dryandra, the
feather-leaved banksia, the maroon-flowered daviesia, the Stirling Range
daviesia, the silky eremophila, the branched hemigenia, Fairall's
lambertia and the round-leafed honeysuckle.
In relation to the western swamp
tortoise, we have released more than 60 back into the wild in little over a
year. I had the privilege of releasing one of those last year. More broadly, 91
translocations of threatened flora and fauna have been undertaken under the
Liberal–National government since 2009. Also, 48 interim or full
recovery plans have been published for 57 threatened species. To support the
reintroduction and preservation of our species, our government has also taken
the step of acquiring 29 000 hectares of land since 2009. That is equivalent to
140 000 Subiaco Ovals. This is for the purpose of protecting our unique animals
and plants. We continue to identify and purchase land as part of the
biodiversity offsets relating to habitat protection for our Carnaby's
black cockatoo.
I recently announced further funding
of $3 million from the state's natural resource management program to
further support conservation measures to protect WA's biodiversity.
About $1.6 million of that sum was provided for critically endangered flora
recovery programs. One hundred and forty-three species are currently under
threat of extinction. Further funding of $1.4 million has been provided for the
conservation of the endangered western swamp tortoise, the dibbler and one of
the state's rarest—one of my favourites—the western
ground parrot. While I am on my feet, I acknowledge the good work being done by
the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot on the south coast. In a nutshell,
what I have briefly outlined is the continued significant work the Liberal–National
government is undertaking to manage WA's threatened species.
his question. I would be delighted to update the house on what the Liberal–National
government is doing to protect WA's threatened species.
As all members know, WA's
south west is an internationally recognised biodiversity hot spot with its
exceptional diversity of natural species. Also, of 15 national biodiversity
habitats, eight are in Western Australia. Our biodiversity is under threat from
a range of issues, which we need to address. These include feral animals such
as foxes, cats and rabbits, weeds, dieback, salinity, altered fire regimes,
habitat loss and changing climate. There are 750 listed threatened flora, fauna
and ecological communities in WA. Most of these are in our biodiversity hot
spots. I am pleased to report that the Liberal–National government has
made significant improvements in these and other areas in an effort to preserve
our threatened species. As well as significant continued and targeted funding,
the successful breeding and reintroduction of animals, including the western
swamp tortoise, the once presumed extinct dibbler, and the western ground
parrot, our government aims to recover up to 20 threatened flora species in the
wild. Nine critically endangered species have been identified for initial re-establishment
methods, including the spiral-fruited wattle, the cactus dryandra, the
feather-leaved banksia, the maroon-flowered daviesia, the Stirling Range
daviesia, the silky eremophila, the branched hemigenia, Fairall's
lambertia and the round-leafed honeysuckle.
In relation to the western swamp
tortoise, we have released more than 60 back into the wild in little over a
year. I had the privilege of releasing one of those last year. More broadly, 91
translocations of threatened flora and fauna have been undertaken under the
Liberal–National government since 2009. Also, 48 interim or full
recovery plans have been published for 57 threatened species. To support the
reintroduction and preservation of our species, our government has also taken
the step of acquiring 29 000 hectares of land since 2009. That is equivalent to
140 000 Subiaco Ovals. This is for the purpose of protecting our unique animals
and plants. We continue to identify and purchase land as part of the
biodiversity offsets relating to habitat protection for our Carnaby's
black cockatoo.
I recently announced further funding
of $3 million from the state's natural resource management program to
further support conservation measures to protect WA's biodiversity.
About $1.6 million of that sum was provided for critically endangered flora
recovery programs. One hundred and forty-three species are currently under
threat of extinction. Further funding of $1.4 million has been provided for the
conservation of the endangered western swamp tortoise, the dibbler and one of
the state's rarest—one of my favourites—the western
ground parrot. While I am on my feet, I acknowledge the good work being done by
the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot on the south coast. In a nutshell,
what I have briefly outlined is the continued significant work the Liberal–National
government is undertaking to manage WA's threatened species.
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