Hon. Sally Talbot inquires about the responsibility and monitoring of pest plant management on land occupied by utilities like Telstra, Western Power, and the Water Corporation. The Minister clarifies responsibilities under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and outlines the Department's approach to compliance.

AnsweredQoN 878Legislative Council
Asked
20 August 2015
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD — PEST PLANTS
878. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Is it the
responsibility of landowners such as Telstra, Western Power and the Water
Corporation to manage pest plants, such as cotton bush, infecting the land
around their utilities?
(2) Does the Department of Agriculture and Food monitor such
sites?
(3) If yes to (2), what action is taken against land
occupiers who do not report and manage infestations?
(4) Are fines
issued for noncompliance; and, if yes, how many fines were issued in 2013–14
and 2014–15?
(5) If the department does not monitor these sites, who does?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) Yes, it is
the landholderXXX ###XXXs responsibility to manage
declared pests under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
(2) No.
However, with community and industry support, DAFWA focuses resources on
identified priority regional areas and develops and implements compliance
plans.
(3) In
priority areas, landholders are approached and are subjected to inspections.
Compliance notices may be issued if compliance is not followed.
(4) Fines are
not currently issued. However, remedial action on noncompliant properties can
be and is undertaken and costs recovered.
(5) Refer to (2) above.

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