❓ Question regarding the Liberal-National government's actions to protect WA's threatened species, specifically the woylie. The Minister outlines past successes, current challenges (feral cats, 1080 resistance), and ongoing investment in sanctuaries and programs.
AnsweredQoN 215Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE —
ENDANGERED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP
215. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Environment:
I have noted media reports in recent days about a scientific
workshop being held by the World Wildlife Fund and the Department of Parks and
Wildlife to discuss the decline of the critically endangered woylie. Can the
minister please update the house on the Liberal–National government's
action to protect Western Australia's threatened species?
ENDANGERED SPECIES SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP
215. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Environment:
I have noted media reports in recent days about a scientific
workshop being held by the World Wildlife Fund and the Department of Parks and
Wildlife to discuss the decline of the critically endangered woylie. Can the
minister please update the house on the Liberal–National government's
action to protect Western Australia's threatened species?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Joondalup for
the question on this very important issue. Members in this house may be aware
that back in 1996, following the success of the 1080 Western Shield baiting
program, under the former Court Liberal government, the woylie was the first
Australian animal to be taken off the threatened species list. As was noted in
a recent article in The Australian ,
that meant that, for many reasons, the woylie went on to become the poster
child of the conservation movement and showed what is possible. There is a range
of reasons for that. The woylie is not significant in and of itself alone but
is significant in the ecosystem chain, which I would love to have an
opportunity to talk about another time. Clearly the success of that program was
fundamentally predicated on the success of the 1080 Western Shield baiting
program. However, unfortunately, in recent times, the feral animals we have
been targeting with that program have adapted.
To give members some background, the 1080 bait is a poison
that was developed here in Western Australia. Its main ingredient is contained
in some of our native plants to the extent that our native marsupials and
native fauna have built up a natural resistance, so it targets only introduced
predators or fauna in this state. We have developed baits in and around that.
The success of the woylie was its ability to combat fox predation in the early
years. However, I suspect a large degree of the current decline in population
is that cats have filled that void. I will speak a little more about that, but
there may be a range of other reasons. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is
involved in a workshop this week with the World Wildlife Fund to investigate
the decline.
I guess the pertinent question is: what are we doing? In
recent years, the Liberal–National government has invested $1.5 million
in the construction of a 423 hectare wildlife sanctuary in the Tone–Perup
Nature Reserve in Manjimup, and that has excluded all predators from the
woylies. As a consequence, the woylie population in that sanctuary alone has
increased dramatically from 41 animals in 2010 to more than 200 animals. We
have also partnered with the philanthropic conservation movement in certain
areas. Only last week, I had the opportunity to present a cheque to the
Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which is looking to build a 7 800 hectare
sanctuary at Mt Gibson.
This is just one of Western Australia's threatened
species being targeted for recovery by the Liberal–National government.
Since taking office in 2008, we have invested more than $37 million in
threatened species recovery. This includes actions in the Kimberley against
cane toads, weeds and other pests—specifically animal pests. We also
have programs such as that aimed at the western ground parrot, which I might
have an opportunity to speak about another time, as well as rangelands
restoration in the goldfields at Lorna Glen. However, setting priorities for
protecting threatened species is not simply about focusing on just the most
endangered, although sometimes the threat to species reaches a precipice, so
that is where some of our resources need to go. In a Western Australian
context, it is very important that we consider landscape scale initiatives such
as the $81.5 million Kimberley science and conservation strategy that this
government has rolled out and will continue to roll out.
Managing threatened species will continue to be undertaken in
accordance with advice from our key experts; it also requires a prioritisation
program. It needs the flexibility to be able to quickly adapt according to
current threats. The woylie is a good example of that. We got the population up
to beyond 200 000 in 1996 and it was relisted in September last year to below
20 000. Having seen a recovery before, we are very confident we can achieve it
again, and are therefore funnelling resources into it. Since the 1970s,
research in Western Australia has shown that the greatest threat now may well
be moving from foxes to cats. In closing, I again speak very highly of the
Western Shield program. We are very fortunate that we have been able to develop
a targeted baiting program here in Western Australia, and this will continue to
be a linchpin of our wildlife recovery programs in this state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Finally, I reiterate the Liberal–National government's
commitment to upgrade the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and introduce a new
and modernised biodiversity conservation bill. I wish members opposite were a
little more interested in this very important issue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, we are onto other business.
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, I call you to order
for the first time. We are trying to hear what business we are moving onto.
the question on this very important issue. Members in this house may be aware
that back in 1996, following the success of the 1080 Western Shield baiting
program, under the former Court Liberal government, the woylie was the first
Australian animal to be taken off the threatened species list. As was noted in
a recent article in The Australian ,
that meant that, for many reasons, the woylie went on to become the poster
child of the conservation movement and showed what is possible. There is a range
of reasons for that. The woylie is not significant in and of itself alone but
is significant in the ecosystem chain, which I would love to have an
opportunity to talk about another time. Clearly the success of that program was
fundamentally predicated on the success of the 1080 Western Shield baiting
program. However, unfortunately, in recent times, the feral animals we have
been targeting with that program have adapted.
To give members some background, the 1080 bait is a poison
that was developed here in Western Australia. Its main ingredient is contained
in some of our native plants to the extent that our native marsupials and
native fauna have built up a natural resistance, so it targets only introduced
predators or fauna in this state. We have developed baits in and around that.
The success of the woylie was its ability to combat fox predation in the early
years. However, I suspect a large degree of the current decline in population
is that cats have filled that void. I will speak a little more about that, but
there may be a range of other reasons. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is
involved in a workshop this week with the World Wildlife Fund to investigate
the decline.
I guess the pertinent question is: what are we doing? In
recent years, the Liberal–National government has invested $1.5 million
in the construction of a 423 hectare wildlife sanctuary in the Tone–Perup
Nature Reserve in Manjimup, and that has excluded all predators from the
woylies. As a consequence, the woylie population in that sanctuary alone has
increased dramatically from 41 animals in 2010 to more than 200 animals. We
have also partnered with the philanthropic conservation movement in certain
areas. Only last week, I had the opportunity to present a cheque to the
Australian Wildlife Conservancy, which is looking to build a 7 800 hectare
sanctuary at Mt Gibson.
This is just one of Western Australia's threatened
species being targeted for recovery by the Liberal–National government.
Since taking office in 2008, we have invested more than $37 million in
threatened species recovery. This includes actions in the Kimberley against
cane toads, weeds and other pests—specifically animal pests. We also
have programs such as that aimed at the western ground parrot, which I might
have an opportunity to speak about another time, as well as rangelands
restoration in the goldfields at Lorna Glen. However, setting priorities for
protecting threatened species is not simply about focusing on just the most
endangered, although sometimes the threat to species reaches a precipice, so
that is where some of our resources need to go. In a Western Australian
context, it is very important that we consider landscape scale initiatives such
as the $81.5 million Kimberley science and conservation strategy that this
government has rolled out and will continue to roll out.
Managing threatened species will continue to be undertaken in
accordance with advice from our key experts; it also requires a prioritisation
program. It needs the flexibility to be able to quickly adapt according to
current threats. The woylie is a good example of that. We got the population up
to beyond 200 000 in 1996 and it was relisted in September last year to below
20 000. Having seen a recovery before, we are very confident we can achieve it
again, and are therefore funnelling resources into it. Since the 1970s,
research in Western Australia has shown that the greatest threat now may well
be moving from foxes to cats. In closing, I again speak very highly of the
Western Shield program. We are very fortunate that we have been able to develop
a targeted baiting program here in Western Australia, and this will continue to
be a linchpin of our wildlife recovery programs in this state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Finally, I reiterate the Liberal–National government's
commitment to upgrade the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and introduce a new
and modernised biodiversity conservation bill. I wish members opposite were a
little more interested in this very important issue.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, we are onto other business.
Ms L.L. Baker interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Maylands, I call you to order
for the first time. We are trying to hear what business we are moving onto.
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