Farmers welcome Libs’ biosecurity moves

Tasmanian farmers said today they supported the move by the State Liberals to centralise biosecurity policy measures within one department to protect agriculture from introduced pests and diseases.

In particular, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association applauded the Liberals’ support for the case espoused by both the TFGA and Environment Tasmania to broaden the charter of the Fox Taskforce to encompass feral cats and other pests that threaten the state’s wildlife and livestock.

“We have been pressing the government to implement its 2009 cat management legislation and broaden the role of the taskforce,” TFGA chief executive Jan Davis said today.

“So far, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The job is not going to get any easier the longer they leave it.”

She was commenting on the Liberals’ Future Directions manifesto released today, in which agriculture is one of the five mainstays of the economy.

“The annual cost to the nation of invasive animals is at least $740 million in lost agricultural production and control costs,” Ms Davis said.

“They have contributed to the extinction of numerous Australian mammals and birds and still threaten hundreds of plant and animal species. Feral cats are a serious threat to Tasmanian biodiversity. The government’s response to invasive animals has been piecemeal, really only marked by the Fox Taskforce and the program to eradicate of carp from highland lakes.”

Ms Davis also welcomed the Liberals commitment to the expansion of irrigation schemes across the state and its support for a sustainable forest industry; and said TFGA looks forward to more detail on these policies.
TFGA chief executive Jan Davis