❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the perceived double standard in the control of cotton bush and blackberry weeds on government versus private lands, questioning the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's weed management approach.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AGRICULTURE — DECLARED WEEDS
378. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the answer provided to
question without notice 80 relating to the management of declared weeds on
government lands.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development has given up on actively controlling cotton bush and blackberry on
government-controlled lands?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that private landholders are still expected to control cotton
bush and blackberry on their lands?
(3) Can the
minister explain why there is a double standard in the control of cotton bush
and blackberry?
(4) Noting that
weeds do not stop at fences, what advice does the minister have for private
landholders whose properties are next to government-controlled lands with
cotton bush and blackberry infestations, who struggle to prevent the spread to
their properties?
378. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the answer provided to
question without notice 80 relating to the management of declared weeds on
government lands.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development has given up on actively controlling cotton bush and blackberry on
government-controlled lands?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that private landholders are still expected to control cotton
bush and blackberry on their lands?
(3) Can the
minister explain why there is a double standard in the control of cotton bush
and blackberry?
(4) Noting that
weeds do not stop at fences, what advice does the minister have for private
landholders whose properties are next to government-controlled lands with
cotton bush and blackberry infestations, who struggle to prevent the spread to
their properties?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) Narrow-leaf
cotton bush and blackberry are category 3 weeds that are classified as being
widespread and established in Western Australia. The Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development does not actively monitor the presence or
activities for category 3 declared weeds on any land.
(2) All
landholders have responsibilities under the Biosecurity and Agriculture
Management Act 2007 to control declared pest species on their land. The BAM act
prescribes numerous control measures to be used for declared pests.
(3) I reject the premise of the
question.
(4) All
landholders have responsibilities under the BAM act to control declared pest
species on their land. I encourage landholders to contact their local
recognised biosecurity group that may assist landholder efforts to manage
declared pests and weeds.
of the question.
(1) Narrow-leaf
cotton bush and blackberry are category 3 weeds that are classified as being
widespread and established in Western Australia. The Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development does not actively monitor the presence or
activities for category 3 declared weeds on any land.
(2) All
landholders have responsibilities under the Biosecurity and Agriculture
Management Act 2007 to control declared pest species on their land. The BAM act
prescribes numerous control measures to be used for declared pests.
(3) I reject the premise of the
question.
(4) All
landholders have responsibilities under the BAM act to control declared pest
species on their land. I encourage landholders to contact their local
recognised biosecurity group that may assist landholder efforts to manage
declared pests and weeds.
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