❓ Opposition Leader Norman Moore questions the government's rationale for declaring rainbow lorikeets pests while not doing the same for crows. Minister Kim Chance clarifies the distinction based on native vs. exotic species status, while acknowledging the need for crow population control under certain circumstances.
AnsweredQoN 1066Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CROWS - DECLARATION AS PESTS
Given that the government has declared that rainbow lorikeets are a pest and that measures are needed to control them, will the government now declare crows to be a pest; and, if not why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
Given that the government has declared that rainbow lorikeets are a pest and that measures are needed to control them, will the government now declare crows to be a pest; and, if not why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for informally advising me earlier in the day that he would be asking this question. The essential issue is that rainbow lorikeets are a species exotic to Western Australia - they are native to eastern Australia - whereas the crow is a native bird. There is a fundamental difference. In the past few days the rainbow lorikeet has been declared a prescribed species within the metropolitan area. Previously it was prescribed in areas outside Perth. The crow, albeit a native animal, can cause major difficulties if it reaches plague proportions. Although crows are part of our environment - as animals they make a contribution to our environment - they can reach numbers that require controlling. This is principally a matter for the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation can control a number of native animals under permit. A number of native animals, such as kangaroos and corellas - Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for informally advising me earlier in the day that he would be asking this question. The essential issue is that rainbow lorikeets are a species exotic to Western Australia - they are native to eastern Australia - whereas the crow is a native bird. There is a fundamental difference. In the past few days the rainbow lorikeet has been declared a prescribed species within the metropolitan area. Previously it was prescribed in areas outside Perth. The crow, albeit a native animal, can cause major difficulties if it reaches plague proportions. Although crows are part of our environment - as animals they make a contribution to our environment - they can reach numbers that require controlling. This is principally a matter for the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation can control a number of native animals under permit. A number of native animals, such as kangaroos and corellas - Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for informally advising me earlier in the day that he would be asking this question. The essential issue is that rainbow lorikeets are a species exotic to Western Australia - they are native to eastern Australia - whereas the crow is a native bird. There is a fundamental difference. In the past few days the rainbow lorikeet has been declared a prescribed species within the metropolitan area. Previously it was prescribed in areas outside Perth. The crow, albeit a native animal, can cause major difficulties if it reaches plague proportions. Although crows are part of our environment - as animals they make a contribution to our environment - they can reach numbers that require controlling. This is principally a matter for the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation can control a number of native animals under permit. A number of native animals, such as kangaroos and corellas - Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for informally advising me earlier in the day that he would be asking this question. The essential issue is that rainbow lorikeets are a species exotic to Western Australia - they are native to eastern Australia - whereas the crow is a native bird. There is a fundamental difference. In the past few days the rainbow lorikeet has been declared a prescribed species within the metropolitan area. Previously it was prescribed in areas outside Perth. The crow, albeit a native animal, can cause major difficulties if it reaches plague proportions. Although crows are part of our environment - as animals they make a contribution to our environment - they can reach numbers that require controlling. This is principally a matter for the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation can control a number of native animals under permit. A number of native animals, such as kangaroos and corellas - Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for informally advising me earlier in the day that he would be asking this question. The essential issue is that rainbow lorikeets are a species exotic to Western Australia - they are native to eastern Australia - whereas the crow is a native bird. There is a fundamental difference. In the past few days the rainbow lorikeet has been declared a prescribed species within the metropolitan area. Previously it was prescribed in areas outside Perth. The crow, albeit a native animal, can cause major difficulties if it reaches plague proportions. Although crows are part of our environment - as animals they make a contribution to our environment - they can reach numbers that require controlling. This is principally a matter for the Department of Environment and Conservation. The Department of Environment and Conservation can control a number of native animals under permit. A number of native animals, such as kangaroos and corellas - Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon Paul Llewellyn interjected. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes. If we change the environment and that causes native animals to increase to plague proportions, they need to be controlled. That is essentially the answer. Crows are a native animal. The Department of Environment and Conservation may decide to conduct a limited control program in given areas. Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon Norman Moore : In the metro area mainly. Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
Hon KIM CHANCE : Yes.
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