Watching the 7.30 Tasmania report on 12 July 2013 I was extremely concerned to hear about the government ignoring the plight of the Eastern Quoll … together with (wildlife biologist) Nick Mooney’s support of the government’s decision.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-12/fears-the-government-is-ignoring-the-plight-of-the/4817736
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-12/how-endangered-is-the-eastern-quoll/4817756
I subsequently requested full details to be released under the provisions of the RTI Act and have now received the following response which shows:
http://cdn-src.tasmaniantimes.com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/RTI%20007%20-%20Applicant%20copy%20FINAL.pdf
On 10 May 2012 the Tasmanian Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Committee recommended to the Minister for the Environment, Brian Wightman, that the Eastern Quoll be listed as endangered “on the basis of evidence for a total population decline of at least 50% over the last 10 years.”
However, on 21 May 2012 the Minister decided not to list the Eastern Quoll as being endangered and requested further information including spotlight survey data from 1975 – 1990 to prove that it is not a “boom and bust” species.
I have no details of any further information and am unable to determine when, if ever, the Minister will review what I consider to be an absurd and unscientific decision.
