❓ Mr. Huston questions the rejection of Baudin's Black-Cockatoo listing as critically endangered, despite expert warnings. The Minister's response defends the decision-making process and highlights ongoing monitoring and recovery efforts.
AnsweredQoN 455Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent decision of the WA Threatened Species Scientific Committee to reject a nomination to list Baudin's Black-Cockatoo as critically endangered, despite expert advice that the species may be extinct within 50 years, and noting the precautionary principle is embedded in Western Australia's environmental legislation, and I ask: (a) Please explain why the precautionary principle was not applied in this case; (b) Please provide the scientific or other advice received by the Committee that led to the rejection of the nomination; and (c) Please advise whether the Minister has requested, or will request, a review of this decision?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment
Response time
8 days
(a) The Threatened Species Scientific Committee is guided by Ministerial Guidelines 1 “Procedures for Making and Assessing Public Nominations for Listing Species or Communities as Threatened Species or Threatened Ecological Communities, and for Listing Key Threatening Processes” and 2 “Threatened and Extinct Species Listing Specifications and Criteria” established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 in considering nominations for listing or delisting a species, or changing in threat status. This includes applying the internationally recognised Red List criteria established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to ensure consistency of decisions across multiple species based on available data.
(b) I table the nomination.
(c) In its advice to the Minister for the Environment, the Committee stated that it is supportive of seeing more structured monitoring of Baudin’s cockatoo across its entire range and that it will review the species’ status should data from such a program become available and advise the Minster accordingly. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) will work with partners to determine whether such a program can be established. DBCA is currently working with the Commonwealth Government to develop an updated recovery plan for all three species of black cockatoo, based on current scientific evidence. This recovery plan will be available for public comment prior to its finalisation.
(b) I table the nomination.
(c) In its advice to the Minister for the Environment, the Committee stated that it is supportive of seeing more structured monitoring of Baudin’s cockatoo across its entire range and that it will review the species’ status should data from such a program become available and advise the Minster accordingly. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) will work with partners to determine whether such a program can be established. DBCA is currently working with the Commonwealth Government to develop an updated recovery plan for all three species of black cockatoo, based on current scientific evidence. This recovery plan will be available for public comment prior to its finalisation.
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