❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses cane toad sightings, potential vectors, equipment from other regions, and biosecurity measures. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines existing quarantine and response plans.
AnsweredQoN 85Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the minister confirm that sightings of cane toads have been reported in Western Australia; and, if so, where, and is one of those locations near the newly constructed Pinjar-Cataby power lines? (2) If there are cane toads in Western Australia, what advice has the minister received about the possible vectors? (3) Is the minister aware of any plant and equipment that has been used in the vicinity of the sightings that has been brought in from Queensland or other tropical regions of Australia; and, if so, what, when and where? (4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(2) If there are cane toads in Western Australia, what advice has the minister received about the possible vectors? (3) Is the minister aware of any plant and equipment that has been used in the vicinity of the sightings that has been brought in from Queensland or other tropical regions of Australia; and, if so, what, when and where? (4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(3) Is the minister aware of any plant and equipment that has been used in the vicinity of the sightings that has been brought in from Queensland or other tropical regions of Australia; and, if so, what, when and where? (4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(2) If there are cane toads in Western Australia, what advice has the minister received about the possible vectors? (3) Is the minister aware of any plant and equipment that has been used in the vicinity of the sightings that has been brought in from Queensland or other tropical regions of Australia; and, if so, what, when and where? (4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(3) Is the minister aware of any plant and equipment that has been used in the vicinity of the sightings that has been brought in from Queensland or other tropical regions of Australia; and, if so, what, when and where? (4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(4) What action is the minister taking in conjunction with other government departments to address this serious issue and safeguard Western Australia’s biosecurity? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(1) In recent years there has been one alleged sighting of a cane toad at Camballin station in the Kimberley, which was investigated by the Department of Conservation and Land Management officers and found to be unconfirmed. In May 2003 a dead and mummified cane toad was found at Broome airport. The Department of Conservation and Land Management is not aware of any reported sightings near the new powerlines. (2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(2) I am aware that there is the potential for cane toads to arrive in the State on a range of vectors, including vehicles, plant, equipment and aircraft. (3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(3) No. (4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
(4) A number of quarantine measures are currently being enforced, primarily through the offices of the Department of Agriculture. These include the two land-based quarantine checkpoints near the Northern Territory and South Australian borders at Kununurra and on the Eyre Highway, as well as quarantine checks at the various airports. I am further advised that the Department of Agriculture has an emergency response plan that would be invoked for any reported sightings of cane toads. A proposal for the establishment of an intergovernmental task force on cane toads will be under consideration by all States and Territories at the natural resource management standing committee meeting on 12 March 2004.
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