Fraser Anning (Queensland, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the agricultural industry is vital to the Australian economy,

  (ii) farming families face hardships such as drought, floods, fires and damage from feral animals, and

  (iii) volunteer and professional hunters are a key aspect in dealing with feral animals; and

(b) calls on the government to:

  (i) direct the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to investigate the cost that feral animals have on the Australian agricultural industry, and

  (ii) make public the findings of the above-mentioned study.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Fraser Anning (Queensland, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We often hear the howls of outrage from inner-city elites when a tree is cleared or water is drawn from a river for agriculture. However, the unheard voices are those of the farmers, who on a daily basis not only fight the inhospitable environment but also battle the scourge of feral pests. In addition to their severe impact on agriculture—damaging crops and stockfeed and using limited water supplies—feral pigs, for example, are also exterminating the turtle population in North Queensland by feeding on turtle eggs before they hatch. Many turtles eat jellyfish in huge numbers, and declining turtle populations have contributed to exponential increases in the population of lethal jellyfish, such as Irukandji. As a result, these are quietly moving down the Queensland coast. Let us not wait until the Irukandji reaches the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast and destroys the tourist industry before the government steps in and gets rid of the pigs.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government strongly supports our agricultural sector, and managing established pest animals and weeds is a key priority. The Australian government has an agreed Australian Pest Animal Strategy in place and funds a range of different programs to improve the tools, technology, skills and knowledge that farmers and the community need to tackle established pest animals. In addition, the coalition government provided $20 million to fund the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions to improve invasive species management.

Information about the cost of feral animals on the Australian agricultural industry is available in a report by the New South Wales Natural Resources Commission and the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions called Cost of pest animals in NSW and Australia, 2013-14 on the PestSmart website. A relevant link to the report has been provided to Senator Anning's office.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Whilst Labor supports the intention of Senator Anning's motion for the government to undertake a study to investigate the cost that feral animals have on Australian agricultural industries, the Senate should also note that this is only one part of the feral animal issue. If the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is directed to undertake such a study, the terms of reference for the study must be developed with stakeholders and other research institutions to ensure that not only is the impact cost identified but strategies and associated costs on how to deal with the impact of feral animals form part of the study.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a one-minute statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens support further work being done on the impact of pest animals on the Australian environment and ways to manage pest animals. Any work or studies that are done should be done with proper terms of reference that are developed in consultation with experts and the terms of reference shouldn't just cover the cost impact on the agricultural industry but the much larger impact that pest animals have on environmental and ecological communities. Further, we note that Senator Anning's comment about hunters being a key aspect in dealing with feral animals needs to be considered in the context of other mechanisms and ways of managing feral animals and that you cannot just deal with feral animals through the use of hunting.

Question agreed to.