❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates a potential cape tulip poisoning incident in cattle, exploring DPIRD's response, responsibilities, and available redress. DPIRD's answers clarify the legal status of cape tulip and the limitations of their involvement.
AnsweredQoN 2058Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) investigation into potential cape tulip (Moraea species) poisoning on a farm on Giddings Road in Coolup from purchased hay (case number AS-23-2490), and I ask: (a) was cape tulip detected in the purchased hay; (b) was the level of cape tulip detected potentially high enough to cause cattle deaths; (c) is cape tulip a declared species under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act or the Western Australian Organism List ; (d) what actions are required by owners on whose properties cape tulip is identified; (e) are owners of properties that are infested with cape tulip required to treat and/or remove the infestation; (f) what investigations did DPIRD conduct on the Shanns Road property of origin of the hay; (g) in reference to (f), what was the result of those investigations; (h) did DPIRD identify cape tulip on the property of origin of the hay; (i) if yes to (h), what action did DPIRD take to address the presence of cape tulip on the property of origin; (j) if DPIRD took no action, why not; (k) what avenues does the owner of the cattle on Giddings Road have for redress to manage the infestation; (l) what diagnosis did DPIRD conclude was the cause of death of the cattle on Giddings Road; and (m) given much of the hay has been fed out, how long does the DPIRD expect the Giddings Road property to be infested?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 August 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
10 days
a) was cape tulip detected in the purchased hay;
One-leaf Cape tulip was identified in a sample from the purchased hay.
(b) was the level of cape tulip detected potentially high enough to cause cattle deaths;
In the sample provided to DPIRD, there was evidence of one-leaf Cape tulip present. It was not possible to determine if one-leaf Cape tulip was the cause of death in the cattle.
(c) is cape tulip a declared species under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act or the Western Australian Organism List;
One-leaf Cape tulip is a Declared Pest under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), however is not assigned a control category. It is a widespread and established pest, particularly in the South-West of the State.
(d) what actions are required by owners on whose properties cape tulip is identified;
Under the BAM Act landowners have an obligation to control declared pests on their land. It is recommended that widespread and established weeds are managed at a landscape level with local community coordination to achieve effective control.
(e) are owners of properties that are infested with cape tulip required to treat and/or remove the infestation;
Yes, landholders have an obligation to control declared pests.
(f) what investigations did DPIRD conduct on the Shanns Road property of origin of the hay ;
DPIRD did not undertake any investigations on the property where the hay originated from as under the BAM Act landowners have an obligation to control declared pests on their land.
(h) did DPIRD identify cape tulip on the property of origin of the hay;
N/A
(i) if yes to (h), what action did DPIRD take to address the presence of cape tulip on the property of origin ;
N/A
(j) if DPIRD took no action, why not ;
DPIRD’s involvement in this case was to rule out reportable diseases as a cause of death in the cattle.
(k) what avenues does the owner of the cattle on Giddings Road have for redress to manage the infestation;
Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 , there are no known avenues for the owner of the cattle to address an infestation of a declared pest on another property.
(l) what diagnosis did DPIRD conclude was the cause of death of the cattle on Giddings Road
The cause of death could not be determined, however the reported changes seen in the cattle were not consistent with a diagnosis of one-leaf Cape tulip poisoning.
(m) given much of the hay has been fed out, how long does the DPIRD expect the Giddings Road property to be infested?
One-leaf Cape tulip is a Declared Pest under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), however is not assigned a control category. It is a widespread and established pest, particularly in the South-West of the State.
One-leaf Cape tulip was identified in a sample from the purchased hay.
(b) was the level of cape tulip detected potentially high enough to cause cattle deaths;
In the sample provided to DPIRD, there was evidence of one-leaf Cape tulip present. It was not possible to determine if one-leaf Cape tulip was the cause of death in the cattle.
(c) is cape tulip a declared species under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act or the Western Australian Organism List;
One-leaf Cape tulip is a Declared Pest under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), however is not assigned a control category. It is a widespread and established pest, particularly in the South-West of the State.
(d) what actions are required by owners on whose properties cape tulip is identified;
Under the BAM Act landowners have an obligation to control declared pests on their land. It is recommended that widespread and established weeds are managed at a landscape level with local community coordination to achieve effective control.
(e) are owners of properties that are infested with cape tulip required to treat and/or remove the infestation;
Yes, landholders have an obligation to control declared pests.
(f) what investigations did DPIRD conduct on the Shanns Road property of origin of the hay ;
DPIRD did not undertake any investigations on the property where the hay originated from as under the BAM Act landowners have an obligation to control declared pests on their land.
(h) did DPIRD identify cape tulip on the property of origin of the hay;
N/A
(i) if yes to (h), what action did DPIRD take to address the presence of cape tulip on the property of origin ;
N/A
(j) if DPIRD took no action, why not ;
DPIRD’s involvement in this case was to rule out reportable diseases as a cause of death in the cattle.
(k) what avenues does the owner of the cattle on Giddings Road have for redress to manage the infestation;
Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 , there are no known avenues for the owner of the cattle to address an infestation of a declared pest on another property.
(l) what diagnosis did DPIRD conclude was the cause of death of the cattle on Giddings Road
The cause of death could not be determined, however the reported changes seen in the cattle were not consistent with a diagnosis of one-leaf Cape tulip poisoning.
(m) given much of the hay has been fed out, how long does the DPIRD expect the Giddings Road property to be infested?
One-leaf Cape tulip is a Declared Pest under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007 (BAM Act), however is not assigned a control category. It is a widespread and established pest, particularly in the South-West of the State.
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