❓ Mr. Zempilas questions DBCA about a $1.3M grant for training and deploying conservation dogs. The response details expenditure, explains the direct contracting of TATE Animals, and highlights ongoing training by WA businesses.
AnsweredQoN 920Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the $1.3 million grant funding the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) secured from the Australian Government's Saving Native Species Program to train and deploy dogs across the country, and I ask: (a) How much of this grant funding has been spent to date; (b) Please provide a breakdown of the expenditure and planned expenditure; (c) Did DBCA provide Western Australian businesses with the opportunity to provide dogs to the programme: (i) If yes, how was this opportunity offered; and (d) Did DBCA provide Western Australian businesses with the opportunity to train detector dogs: (i) If yes, how was this opportunity offered?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment
Response time
8 days
(a) As of the last report to the Commonwealth that accounts for project expenditure to 30 June 2025, $819,627 of the grant has been expended to date.
(b) As per Commonwealth Grant Agreement SNSGC000167:
Head of Expenditure
Expenditure to 30 June 2025
Planned Expenditure
1 July 2025 - 30 March 2026
Grant Budget
Administrative support and overheads
$0
$0
$0
Communications and engagement
$4,625
$4,675
$9,300
Contingency costs
$5,794
$114,206
$120,000
Contract
$681,793
$229,262
$911,055
Domestic travel
$4,158
$6,722
$10,880
Equipment
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
Independent Audit costs
$0
$12,000
$12,000
Legal and financial advice
$12,625
$27,375
$40,000
Salaries and on-costs
$108,132
$158,118
$266,250
Staff training
$0
$0
$0
Grand Total
$819,627
$554,858
$1,374,485
(c) TATE Animals was the only company in Australia with proven experience in training and deploying dogs specifically for dieback detection. As a result, the company was directly contracted to procure and train the dogs for use in Western Australia.
(i) Not applicable.
(d) - (d)(i) Following a competitive grant process, Western Australian businesses are now continuing to train the dogs originally provided by TATE Animals, building capacity within local organisations.
(b) As per Commonwealth Grant Agreement SNSGC000167:
Head of Expenditure
Expenditure to 30 June 2025
Planned Expenditure
1 July 2025 - 30 March 2026
Grant Budget
Administrative support and overheads
$0
$0
$0
Communications and engagement
$4,625
$4,675
$9,300
Contingency costs
$5,794
$114,206
$120,000
Contract
$681,793
$229,262
$911,055
Domestic travel
$4,158
$6,722
$10,880
Equipment
$2,500
$2,500
$5,000
Independent Audit costs
$0
$12,000
$12,000
Legal and financial advice
$12,625
$27,375
$40,000
Salaries and on-costs
$108,132
$158,118
$266,250
Staff training
$0
$0
$0
Grand Total
$819,627
$554,858
$1,374,485
(c) TATE Animals was the only company in Australia with proven experience in training and deploying dogs specifically for dieback detection. As a result, the company was directly contracted to procure and train the dogs for use in Western Australia.
(i) Not applicable.
(d) - (d)(i) Following a competitive grant process, Western Australian businesses are now continuing to train the dogs originally provided by TATE Animals, building capacity within local organisations.
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