❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the reclassification of cane toads as declared pests in WA, particularly concerning funding for control efforts and the impact on biodiversity. The Minister acknowledges the question and expresses willingness to review the classification.
AnsweredQoN 650Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CANE TOAD —
CLASSIFICATION
650. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the recommendation of the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development that the cane toad
remain a declared pest above the twentieth parallel, but under a section 22
control category rather than category 3, management. The species will remain as
category 2, eradication, below the twentieth parallel.
(1) Will the
minister confirm that Western Australia is the only state to have introduced
this reclassification?
(2) Is the
minister aware that if the cane toad arrives in the Pilbara, and despite being
listed as a feral pest, this reclassification will make it difficult for groups
like Kimberley Toad Busters to get government funding to help prepare the area
for the arrival of the cane toad or to assist in its control and eradication?
(3) Why, given
the Kimberley's extraordinary extinction rate of endangered species and
the incredible damage that cane toads do to the building block of biodiversity,
the invertebrate system, has the minister agreed to such a reclassification?
(4) Will the minister reclassify the
cane toad as category 1?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) If yes to (4), when?
CLASSIFICATION
650. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the recommendation of the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development that the cane toad
remain a declared pest above the twentieth parallel, but under a section 22
control category rather than category 3, management. The species will remain as
category 2, eradication, below the twentieth parallel.
(1) Will the
minister confirm that Western Australia is the only state to have introduced
this reclassification?
(2) Is the
minister aware that if the cane toad arrives in the Pilbara, and despite being
listed as a feral pest, this reclassification will make it difficult for groups
like Kimberley Toad Busters to get government funding to help prepare the area
for the arrival of the cane toad or to assist in its control and eradication?
(3) Why, given
the Kimberley's extraordinary extinction rate of endangered species and
the incredible damage that cane toads do to the building block of biodiversity,
the invertebrate system, has the minister agreed to such a reclassification?
(4) Will the minister reclassify the
cane toad as category 1?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) If yes to (4), when?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
I note that the question did come in yesterday, but it is not in my file. I will
say that there was a rationale from the department for making that
determination. I have had discussions with my colleague the Minister for
Environment and I am happy to look at that matter again to see whether there is
a benefit in changing the classification of the cane toad.
I note that the question did come in yesterday, but it is not in my file. I will
say that there was a rationale from the department for making that
determination. I have had discussions with my colleague the Minister for
Environment and I am happy to look at that matter again to see whether there is
a benefit in changing the classification of the cane toad.
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