❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the state government's $400,000 commitment to starling eradication, seeking justification for the priority, details on project funding, and the basis for the estimated starling population. The Minister's response outlines the biosecurity threat posed by starlings, details fund allocation, and references expert consultation for population estimates.
AnsweredQoN 1314Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Referring to the Minister’s media statement on 19 October 2009, State Government commits $400 000 to help eradicate starlings, as well as to question No. 219 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 9 January 2009 by Mick Murray MLA, I ask -
(1) Why does the Minister consider the eradication of starlings as a priority goal for Natural Resources Management?
(2) What projects will be funded from the $400 000?
(3) What agencies will receive the funding?
(4) The media statement refers to an estimated 300 starlings currently in Western Australia, what is the evidence to support this estimate?
(5) Who made this estimate?
(6) Has John Parkes (from Landcare Research, New Zealand) who was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Food in mid-2008, to review the effectiveness of the program to eradicate starlings from the South Coast of Western Australia, completed his report?
(7) If yes to (6), will the Minister table that report?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(1) Why does the Minister consider the eradication of starlings as a priority goal for Natural Resources Management?
(2) What projects will be funded from the $400 000?
(3) What agencies will receive the funding?
(4) The media statement refers to an estimated 300 starlings currently in Western Australia, what is the evidence to support this estimate?
(5) Who made this estimate?
(6) Has John Parkes (from Landcare Research, New Zealand) who was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and Food in mid-2008, to review the effectiveness of the program to eradicate starlings from the South Coast of Western Australia, completed his report?
(7) If yes to (6), will the Minister table that report?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 November 2009
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
26 days
(1) Biosecurity has been identified as one of the Government's key Natural Resource Management priorities, and starlings represent a significant biosecurity threat. If starlings became established in Western Australia they would have a significant impact on our grains and horticulture industries. They would also impact on community, social and tourism values, cause considerable damage to property and crowd out native birds.
(2) These funds will be used to enhance surveillance for starlings in the areas where starlings have been reported to occur and to facilitate early removal of starlings by trapping and shooting, and the removal of nests.
(3) The Department of Agriculture and Food will receive the funding.
(4) The media statement estimate of 300 starlings remaining at the end of April 2009 was based on the extensive surveillance by field staff of the area where starlings are known to occur, adjusted for the biology/dynamics of starling populations.
(5) Estimate was arrived at in consultation between Dr Andrew Woolnough (Manager, Animal Pest Research and Advisory Service), and Mr Ron Payne (Manager, Starling Management).
(6) The report produced by John Parkes has been completed.
(7) [See tabled paper no]
(8) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(2) These funds will be used to enhance surveillance for starlings in the areas where starlings have been reported to occur and to facilitate early removal of starlings by trapping and shooting, and the removal of nests.
(3) The Department of Agriculture and Food will receive the funding.
(4) The media statement estimate of 300 starlings remaining at the end of April 2009 was based on the extensive surveillance by field staff of the area where starlings are known to occur, adjusted for the biology/dynamics of starling populations.
(5) Estimate was arrived at in consultation between Dr Andrew Woolnough (Manager, Animal Pest Research and Advisory Service), and Mr Ron Payne (Manager, Starling Management).
(6) The report produced by John Parkes has been completed.
(7) [See tabled paper no]
(8) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.