Push to expand Fox Taskforce into Feral Species Unit

The Tasmanian Greens today announced a policy push to expand the Fox Taskforce into a Feral Species Unit, while renewing calls for the Cat Management Act to be proclaimed.

Greens Environment spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP said the proposed agency would cover a range of introduced species such as feral cats, while maintaining its vigilance against foxes becoming established.

“A Feral Species Unit would target not just foxes, but the scores of other identified pests that are threatening our native species and our primary industries sector,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The Greens envisage that the unit would place a strategic focus on feral cats, which is urgently needed for both agricultural and environmental reasons.”

“Feral cats are a major pest to farmers and carry infectious diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis, which affect livestock and result in rejection of meat for human consumption.”
“There is mounting evidence of wallabies, wombats, bandicoots, possums and pademelons dying an awful, painful death from this disease.”

“Broadening the role of the Fox Taskforce to include all feral species would also take some of the heat out of the community debate over the presence of foxes in Tasmania.”

“The creation of a Feral Species Unit only goes part-way to addressing the feral cat problem, which is why the Greens are again calling on the Minister for Primary Industries to proclaim the Cat Management Act, which was passed through the Parliament in November 2009,” Ms O’Connor said.

• Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The $50 Million Fox Hunt, Global Mail here