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 4 October 2011:

With reference to the answer provided to question on notice no 909 (Senate, Hansard, 20 September 2011, p. 91):

(1) In relation to (2) of the answer, were the discussions referred to held prior to the importation of fox scats.

(2) Were any fox scats imported into Tasmania without the 'freezing' treatment; if so, can the number or weight of that which was imported be listed.

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 – some discussions occurred prior to the importation of fox scats. Relevant discussions within the state department commenced in October 2007, and the importation commenced November 2007.

(2) There were 945 grams of bulked fox scats imported into Tasmania from November 2007 to May 2008 not treated by freezing. An additional 621 individual fox scats imported for training purposes between June 2008 and February 2010 were also not treated by freezing.

All used scats, including those imported to Tasmania between 2007 and 2010, are disposed of via registered commercial and quarantine waste disposal services after they have been used for training or research purposes, except for those returned to the mainland for further analysis.