Economy
Tasmanian Upper House MP alleges evidence of foxes in state fabricated …
An Upper House MP is set to make a complaint to Tasmania’s police commissioner alleging evidence of foxes in the state has been fabricated.
Ivan Dean is claiming fox carcasses and other physical evidence was planted, and tens-of-millions of dollars was wasted on the fox eradication program.
“It’s up to somebody to take this matter forward … I’m now going to take the matter to the police department and to the commissioner Darren Hine,” Mr Dean said.
The former Labor government spent about $50 million of state and federal funds on a taskforce to eradicate foxes in Tasmania.
Mr Dean has alleged the evidence relied upon to continue that taskforce was faked.
“If you look at every piece of physical evidence that’s been produced over the last fourteen years you will find it all falls apart, it’s all questionable,” he said.
“I will be referring to all of the carcasses that have been produced … the skull will be referenced as well, the scats are also very critical to this whole thing as well.”
Two recent independent scientific reports utilising government data found it was likely evidence of fox scats and carcasses could have been planted.
• Ian Rist in Comments: … Report – Parliament of Tasmania The Cost Effectiveness of the Fox Eradication Program: Basically none of the recommendations have been applied…especially Police involvement in suspected hoaxing or fabrication and nothing spent on barrier fencing et cetra at Port facilities. How serious were the politicians?