Media release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Primary Industries Spokesperson, 10 December 2024
Liberals must stop being evasive on invasives
Invasives pose an enormous and growing threat to our Tasmanian environment and economy, yet the Tasmanian Liberals won’t even be transparent about what they’re doing on this important issue. The Greens are calling on the Rockliff Government to release a holistic plan for invasive species management as part of their State of the Environment Report response, to be released before Christmas.
The updated Tasmanian Cat Management Plan is sitting on a desk, and we have heard nothing but crickets on the Government’s commitment to tackle foxglove. Under questioning from the Greens, Parks Minister Duigan refused to explicitly state whether the Federal Heritage Grant application submitted by Parks is for another deer cull in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, or something else.
The lack of action and transparency is inexcusable, which is why the Greens alongside the people of Mole Creek, have launched a parliamentary petition. The petition calls on the Liberal Government to invest in new biocontrol measures for rabbits and to establish a funding scheme to help property owners and communities dealing with exceptional damage after a national shortage of the calicivirus.
The Liberals keep saying they will take action on key invasive species like deer, foxglove and rabbits, but they’re just not acting. This is detrimental to our land holders and natural environment, as the longer invasive issues are left unattended to, the worse they become.
Invasive species destroy habitat, pollute waters, damage farmland, and kill native plants and animals. The Liberals must urgently outline a holistic plan to eliminate key invasive species as a part of their pending response to the State of the Environment Report, promised to be released by Christmas.
Comment – Dr Tiana Pirtle, Conservation Officer, Invasive Species Council, 11 December 2024
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‘Tasmania is a remarkable island, with native wildlife found nowhere else on earth and highly valued agriculture, forestry, and tourism sectors.
‘But all this is under threat from highly damaging invasive species like feral deer, cats and weeds. The good news is that with investment and commitment, Tasmania could turn this around and become a wildlife revival success story, free of the worst invasive species.’
