❓ A parliamentary question addresses the use of 1080 poison in Western Australia for pest control, its humaneness, and potential alternatives. The Minister clarifies its use is limited to introduced species and outlines alternative control methods being explored.
AnsweredQoN 119Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the poison 1080 still used by official agencies in Western Australia to control native animals attacking crops?
(2) Does the Department accept the contention that 1080 is a slow-acting poison, and thus could be seen as inhumane?
(3) Has the Department or Agencies responsible for the control of 1080 ever considered an alternative?
(4) If so can the Minister give details?
(2) Does the Department accept the contention that 1080 is a slow-acting poison, and thus could be seen as inhumane?
(3) Has the Department or Agencies responsible for the control of 1080 ever considered an alternative?
(4) If so can the Minister give details?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 May 2001
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture
Response time
26 days
1.
1080 is not used to control native species in WA. It is used for the control of introduced species such as the rabbit, fox, wild dogs and feral pigs.
2.
1080 would not be considered a slow acting poison. However, there is a lag-phase after the poison has been ingested, before signs of poisoning first appear. Most animals succumb to 1080 within 12 hours of ingestion. 1080 is an acute poison and is considered to be one of the most humane of the vertebrate pesticides in common use.
3.
Alternatives to 1080 have been investigated for control of introduced animal pest species.
4.
Alternatives for control of introduced species include: the use of pindone for rabbit control, and the development of zinc phosphide bait for broadacre control of house mice. Myxomatosis and the Rabbit Calicivirus Disease have also been used to reduce the impact of rabbits on Australian ecosystems and agricultural production. The Agriculture Protection Board is one of the founding members of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for the Biologicial Control of Pest Animals. This CRC is investigating the potential for using naturally spread, target specific sterility agents as a means for reducing the abundance of vertebrate pests. This CRC has been ongoing for approximately 9 years.
1080 is not used to control native species in WA. It is used for the control of introduced species such as the rabbit, fox, wild dogs and feral pigs.
2.
1080 would not be considered a slow acting poison. However, there is a lag-phase after the poison has been ingested, before signs of poisoning first appear. Most animals succumb to 1080 within 12 hours of ingestion. 1080 is an acute poison and is considered to be one of the most humane of the vertebrate pesticides in common use.
3.
Alternatives to 1080 have been investigated for control of introduced animal pest species.
4.
Alternatives for control of introduced species include: the use of pindone for rabbit control, and the development of zinc phosphide bait for broadacre control of house mice. Myxomatosis and the Rabbit Calicivirus Disease have also been used to reduce the impact of rabbits on Australian ecosystems and agricultural production. The Agriculture Protection Board is one of the founding members of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for the Biologicial Control of Pest Animals. This CRC is investigating the potential for using naturally spread, target specific sterility agents as a means for reducing the abundance of vertebrate pests. This CRC has been ongoing for approximately 9 years.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.