Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 9 September 2011:

With reference to the answer to question no. 114 taken on notice during the 2011-12 Budget estimates hearings of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee in May 2011:

(1) If 331 tonnes of bait was used, is it correct to assume 212 tonnes of bait was destroyed on the island; if not, why not.

(2) Can details be provided on how was the bait destroyed.

(3) What was the cost of destroying the bait.

(4) What was the estimated cost of returning the unused or spoiled bait to Australia.

(5) On its return, why would the unused or spoiled bait need to go to landfill.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1)Yes

(2) The bait was incinerated.

(3) Purchase of the incinerator was approximately $42,000, some of which will be re-couped when the incinerator is sold.

(4) If the bait had been returned to Australia it is estimated the cost of its return and disposal would have been approximately $3 million.

(5) As the bait was registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority only for use on Macquarie Island, it was not lawful to use it elsewhere in Australia.