Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the cost of weeds to our community is estimated by the experts to be about $4 billion per annum. It is a major problem. The cooperative research centre have done excellent work but, as with all cooperative research centres, they have to resubmit and go through a very rigorous evaluation process. Unfortunately, on this occasion they were not recommended for funding into the future. Having said that, the director of the weeds CRC, Dr Rachel McFadyen, was in my office this morning. We were discussing the way forward because, unlike those opposite who try to use weeds to make a cheap political point, some of us on this side have a genuine interest—and that is what I was exploring with the good doctor earlier this morning. A lot of good work has been done. We do not want to lose that research and that body of knowledge. So I am working, as best I am able, with those involved in the cooperative research centre to see what other avenues might be available.

Having said that, our Defeating the Weed Menace program of some $44.4 million remains in place. We are continuing to fight the menace of weeds not only for our farmers, because of the economic cost, but also because of the real environmental costs to our biodiversity. When the rains finally come again, as I am sure they will, the problem of weeds could well be substantially more serious than it is now because of the flooding that will undoubtedly occur and all the seeding that has taken place. We as a government recognise, and have recognised for a long time, the problem of weeds. That is why my colleague started the Defeating the Weed Menace program. We have committed $44.4 million to it.