Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matters be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by the second sitting Wednesday in February 2019:

The impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia, and national priorities to prevent the problems worsening for the natural environment, community and farmers, including:

(a) the current and potential occurrence of feral deer, pigs and goats across Australia;

(b) the likely and potential biosecurity risks and impacts of feral deer, pigs and goats on the environment, agriculture, community safety and other values;

(c) the effectiveness of current state and national laws, policies and practices in limiting spread and mitigating impacts of feral deer, pigs and goats;

(d) the efficacy and welfare implications of currently available control and containment tools and methods, and the potential for new control and containment tools and methods;

(e) priority research questions;

(f) the benefits of developing and fully implementing national threat abatement plans for feral deer, pigs and goats; and

(g) any other related matters.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Managing established pest animals like feral pigs, deer and goats are key priorities of this government. A large body of work to minimise the impact of these feral animals on our environment, community and farmers is already underway, including through the Commonwealth funded Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, which works in partnership with state and territory governments and industry. Once completed, this work will provide a strong evidentiary base on which to build future efforts. Any inquiry into these matters would be better positioned following the completion of the work currently underway.

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

The question is that business of the Senate matter No. 1 be agreed to.