❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Environment regarding red tape impacting volunteer wildlife rehabilitation groups. The Minister acknowledges their work and highlights efforts to improve standards and support through grants and fee waivers.
AnsweredQoN 876Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION —
LICENCE CONDITIONS
876. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the reported impact of
red tape on licence conditions for small volunteer based native animal
rehabilitation groups such as Fostering and Assistance for Wildlife Needing Aid
and Native Animal Rescue.
(1) Does the
minister support the work of volunteer native animal rescue groups such as
FAWNA and NAR?
(2) Will the minister
commit to assisting volunteer groups as they grapple with increasingly
difficult licence conditions, which are reported to be putting the welfare of
native animals at risk?
(3) Will the
minister provide support to ensure these vital volunteer organisations are
respected, valued and supported into the future?
LICENCE CONDITIONS
876. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the reported impact of
red tape on licence conditions for small volunteer based native animal
rehabilitation groups such as Fostering and Assistance for Wildlife Needing Aid
and Native Animal Rescue.
(1) Does the
minister support the work of volunteer native animal rescue groups such as
FAWNA and NAR?
(2) Will the minister
commit to assisting volunteer groups as they grapple with increasingly
difficult licence conditions, which are reported to be putting the welfare of
native animals at risk?
(3) Will the
minister provide support to ensure these vital volunteer organisations are
respected, valued and supported into the future?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
implementation of regulation 35, fauna possessing (other purposes) licences, to
rehabilitate fauna for release to the wild was a step the rehabilitation
community requested the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions implement to raise standards, accountability
and consistency across the sector . In implementing this licence, the
DBCA has engaged extensively with the rehabilitation community and the groups
mentioned contributed to the Code of practice for wildlife rehabilitation in
Western Australia that forms the primary basis of the conditions of this
licence. Notifications and recording of fauna rehabilitation information are
some of the key conditions that will allow licensees to demonstrate the work
they do and illustrate their important contribution to supporting sick, injured
and abandoned fauna. This approach is consistent with other jurisdictions
across the country.
(3) The DBCA
engages with regulation 35 licensees in good faith and with respect for the
important work they do. The DBCA waives the fees associated with the licence in
recognition of the importance of their activity.
There are several state government grant opportunities available to wildlife
rehabilitators, including the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Developments' animal welfare grant program, state natural
resource management community stewardship grants and Lotterywest.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment I provide
the following answer.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
implementation of regulation 35, fauna possessing (other purposes) licences, to
rehabilitate fauna for release to the wild was a step the rehabilitation
community requested the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions implement to raise standards, accountability
and consistency across the sector . In implementing this licence, the
DBCA has engaged extensively with the rehabilitation community and the groups
mentioned contributed to the Code of practice for wildlife rehabilitation in
Western Australia that forms the primary basis of the conditions of this
licence. Notifications and recording of fauna rehabilitation information are
some of the key conditions that will allow licensees to demonstrate the work
they do and illustrate their important contribution to supporting sick, injured
and abandoned fauna. This approach is consistent with other jurisdictions
across the country.
(3) The DBCA
engages with regulation 35 licensees in good faith and with respect for the
important work they do. The DBCA waives the fees associated with the licence in
recognition of the importance of their activity.
There are several state government grant opportunities available to wildlife
rehabilitators, including the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Developments' animal welfare grant program, state natural
resource management community stewardship grants and Lotterywest.
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