❓ Hon. Louise Kingston raises concerns about feral pig damage in the South West, questioning DBCA's management strategies. The parliamentary secretary provides answers on behalf of the Minister for Environment, outlining current policies and collaborations.
AnsweredQoN 1224Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FERAL PIGS — SOUTH WEST
1224. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the feral pigs that are causing massive
environmental damage within national parks and private property along the south
coast from Augusta to Denmark, with the potential local extinction of emus and
feral pigs becoming a serious safety risk to walkers on remote parts of the
Bibbulmun Track.
(1) What
priority has the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in
the southern forest regions placed on feral pig control both now and into the
immediate future?
(2) How much
has DBCA directly expended on the feral pig management problem annually in
national parks for the past five years?
(3) How many staff are actively involved in the field of
feral pig management?
(4) How many private contractors does DBCA use regularly on
this issue?
(5) Has a detailed
study been completed recently, or is one planned, to determine the number of
feral pigs in various parts of the parks?
(6) Are
HOGGONE baits in self-feeding stations being deployed at present and, if so,
where; and, if not, why are they not being used?
(7) What is
the mid-term to long-term containment policy of feral pigs in parks, and has
this been reviewed recently?
(8) Are any other government agencies involved in joint
operations to combat this serious menace?
(9) Is the
minister aware of the public health notice regarding Japanese encephalitis
being detected in feral pigs and sentinel chicken flocks in the Kimberley and
Pilbara region?
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! As all members are well aware,
standing order 105(1)(a) requires that questions are concise. If there
is a breach of that standing order, the President may order the withdrawal of
the question. I am just reminding members. However, given the length of that
question, I hope that the answer is quite brief, because answers are also
required to be brief.
1224. Hon LOUISE KINGSTON to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the feral pigs that are causing massive
environmental damage within national parks and private property along the south
coast from Augusta to Denmark, with the potential local extinction of emus and
feral pigs becoming a serious safety risk to walkers on remote parts of the
Bibbulmun Track.
(1) What
priority has the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in
the southern forest regions placed on feral pig control both now and into the
immediate future?
(2) How much
has DBCA directly expended on the feral pig management problem annually in
national parks for the past five years?
(3) How many staff are actively involved in the field of
feral pig management?
(4) How many private contractors does DBCA use regularly on
this issue?
(5) Has a detailed
study been completed recently, or is one planned, to determine the number of
feral pigs in various parts of the parks?
(6) Are
HOGGONE baits in self-feeding stations being deployed at present and, if so,
where; and, if not, why are they not being used?
(7) What is
the mid-term to long-term containment policy of feral pigs in parks, and has
this been reviewed recently?
(8) Are any other government agencies involved in joint
operations to combat this serious menace?
(9) Is the
minister aware of the public health notice regarding Japanese encephalitis
being detected in feral pigs and sentinel chicken flocks in the Kimberley and
Pilbara region?
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! As all members are well aware,
standing order 105(1)(a) requires that questions are concise. If there
is a breach of that standing order, the President may order the withdrawal of
the question. I am just reminding members. However, given the length of that
question, I hope that the answer is quite brief, because answers are also
required to be brief.
AnswerView source ↗
I think I thank the
honourable member for some notice of a large number of questions. I will try to
keep the response shorter than the question, President. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment, I provide the following answer.
(1) Feral pigs
are one of a number of pest animal species that pose a threat to environmental
values and on public use and enjoyment of
land. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions prioritises feral pig control consistent with ''Corporate policy No. 12—Pest
animal management''. The department prioritises its management efforts
based primarily on biodiversity asset protection management programs and in
response to community issues, legislative requirements and available resources.
(2)–(4) Feral pig management is one of a range of
land management programs —
The PRESIDENT : Order, member. Can you just slow down a little so
that your contribution can be captured as well.
Hon DARREN WEST : Thank you, President.
(2)–(4)
Feral pig management is one of a range of land management programs that DBCA
staff undertake as part of managing the formal conservation estate. DBCA does
not account for individual and local pig control efforts. There are no
individual staff dedicated to pig control only. The use of private paid
contractors to undertake feral pig control programs is not common but remains
an option depending on the level of impact observed and chances for successful
control.
(5) No. DBCA has no specific program for surveying feral
pigs.
(6) DBCA
considers 1080 to be a more effective method for managing feral pigs on the
land it manages in WA due to non-target risks, variability in the success of
HOGGONE and cost effectiveness.
(7) ''Corporate
policy No. 12—Pest animal management'' was endorsed in May 2022
and is due for review by December 2026.
(8) The
management of invasive animals requires the involvement, collaboration and
cooperation of multiple stakeholders including state government agencies, local
government, community groups, recognised recreational hunters and biosecurity
groups. The work undertaken by community groups complements DBCA's pig control efforts. In the lower
south west, DBCA works closely with groups such as the Lake Muir
Denbarker Community Feral Pig Eradication Group to support local control
efforts. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has
developed the Western Australian feral pig strategy 2020–2025 in
conjunction with stakeholders on a strategic approach to the management of
feral pigs in WA.
(9) Yes.
The PRESIDENT : Members, that may have run very close
to breaching standing order 106, but given the question was very long, it got a
long answer.
honourable member for some notice of a large number of questions. I will try to
keep the response shorter than the question, President. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment, I provide the following answer.
(1) Feral pigs
are one of a number of pest animal species that pose a threat to environmental
values and on public use and enjoyment of
land. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions prioritises feral pig control consistent with ''Corporate policy No. 12—Pest
animal management''. The department prioritises its management efforts
based primarily on biodiversity asset protection management programs and in
response to community issues, legislative requirements and available resources.
(2)–(4) Feral pig management is one of a range of
land management programs —
The PRESIDENT : Order, member. Can you just slow down a little so
that your contribution can be captured as well.
Hon DARREN WEST : Thank you, President.
(2)–(4)
Feral pig management is one of a range of land management programs that DBCA
staff undertake as part of managing the formal conservation estate. DBCA does
not account for individual and local pig control efforts. There are no
individual staff dedicated to pig control only. The use of private paid
contractors to undertake feral pig control programs is not common but remains
an option depending on the level of impact observed and chances for successful
control.
(5) No. DBCA has no specific program for surveying feral
pigs.
(6) DBCA
considers 1080 to be a more effective method for managing feral pigs on the
land it manages in WA due to non-target risks, variability in the success of
HOGGONE and cost effectiveness.
(7) ''Corporate
policy No. 12—Pest animal management'' was endorsed in May 2022
and is due for review by December 2026.
(8) The
management of invasive animals requires the involvement, collaboration and
cooperation of multiple stakeholders including state government agencies, local
government, community groups, recognised recreational hunters and biosecurity
groups. The work undertaken by community groups complements DBCA's pig control efforts. In the lower
south west, DBCA works closely with groups such as the Lake Muir
Denbarker Community Feral Pig Eradication Group to support local control
efforts. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has
developed the Western Australian feral pig strategy 2020–2025 in
conjunction with stakeholders on a strategic approach to the management of
feral pigs in WA.
(9) Yes.
The PRESIDENT : Members, that may have run very close
to breaching standing order 106, but given the question was very long, it got a
long answer.
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