Pest Animal Report Urges Fast Action
The Age
Tuesday November 29, 2005
WILD dogs, rabbits, foxes and feral pigs will continue to be culled with the controversial 1080 poison if state and territory governments adopt the recommendations of a federal inquiry into pest animals.
The House of Representatives Agriculture Committee yesterday released its report calling for a national body to develop strategies to control pest animals and for increased funding for state and territory governments.The report, Taking Control: A National Approach to Pest Animals, provides 47 recommendations including creating a special fund for doggers and pest controllers to cull feral animals and easing restrictions on the commercial use of native pests, such as kangaroos and possums.The inquiry examined the impact of pest animals, noting that 11 pest animals including foxes, feral cats, rabbits, feral pigs, dogs, wild horses, cane toads, mice, carp, feral goats and feral camels cost the national economy at least $720 million a year. This would run into the billions if other pest animals and insects were taken into account.The report said that while there was a need for humane pest management, not enough research had been carried out on the effects of 1080 poison and aerial baiting. It said that until more research was available, 1080 must remain available to landholders. It called on Tasmania to reconsider its decision to phase out 1080, and on the NSW and Victorian governments to remove bans on aerial baiting.Committee chairman Alby Schultz said pest animals had increased in the absence of a national approach and by the decision by some states to cut funding for doggers and to put restrictions on aerial baiting. He said wild dogs were hurting the sheep industry and 23 million feral pigs would create a "nightmare" if foot-and-mouth disease were to break out.The Victorian Farmers Federation welcomed the recommendation to allow aerial baiting. The State Government is conducting a trial of aerial baiting of wild dogs in Gippsland initially using a non-toxic bait. Stage two of the trial may use toxic baits - including 1080.But animal liberation groups say aerial baiting and the use of 1080 is inhumane. Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes said: "There is no emphasis to move into this century. We are still talking about barbaric management systems."RSPCA national president Hugh Wirth agreed, saying those who used the 1080 and aerial baiting were killing harmless animals. "We are still using outdated techniques, which are cruel and inefficient," he said.LINK www.aph.gov.au
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