Ms O’CONNOR – The Wings Wildlife Park received $300,000. That grant is being administered through Communities Tasmania. What is that significant allocation to Wings Wildlife Park about because there are other wildlife rescue organisations that didn’t get anything from government. Maybe they were in the wrong electorate.
CHAIR – The Raptor Rescue is in the same Braddon electorate.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, Raptor Rescue also in Franklin.
Ms OGILVIE – I do have a bit of information on that. The 2024-25 state budget provided $300,000 to Wings Wildlife Park as a 2024 election commitment to support the new wildlife hospital and conduct flood mitigation. Funding was provided to the Department of Premier and Cabinet to administer DPAC. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania have been working together to ensure the ground is provided to Wing’s Wildlife Park in accordance with the commitment, whilst ensuring good governance of public funds as well as good wildlife outcomes. The grant is yet to be provided as the Wildlife hospital, although completely rebuilt, does not have a veterinarian on staff to support wildlife hospital services. DPAC –
CHAIR – It was damaged and there was a big flood.
Ms OGILVIE – Yes. DPAC continues to work with the recipient and NRET to resolve the matter.
That’s a bit more information.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you for that, minister.
So, you are saying that the infrastructure that was funded has been built.
The funding that was promised hasn’t been delivered.
Ms OGILVIE – A sum of $300,000 to Wings Wildlife Park as an election commitment.
NRET and DPAC have been working together to ensure the grant is provided to Wings Wildlife Park, etcetera. The grant is yet to be provided as the wildlife hospital, although completely rebuilt, does not have a veterinarian on staff to support wildlife hospital services.
CHAIR – It’s a hospital with no patients.
Ms OGILVIE – It sounds to me like they need a vet.
Ms O’CONNOR – It does. As an example, Bonorong delivers a really important wildlife rescue service.
They they have veterinary services that are accessible there, but Bonorong gets nothing. Wings Wildlife Park gets $300,000.
Do you agree it’s sort of emblematic of the unstrategic, haphazard way funds have been allocated in the state through the vehicle of elections?
Ms OGILVIE – No.
Ms O’CONNOR – It’s not equitable.
Okay, so to your mind it is fair and reasonable that one wildlife park, maybe they’re the squeakiest wheel, got $300,000. Bonorong Wildlife Park is constantly fundraising for members of the community to pay for their wildlife rescue service.
The question was, do you believe that’s fair and reasonable?
Ms OGILVIE – There are always difficult choices to make and priorities, both with government services and during election campaigns. It’s part of the democratic process. I’m not sure what I can tell you.
Ms O’CONNOR – You know how difficult that choice would have been. I can select rather than stepping back and looking where the need is and investing strategically. If you’re interested in wildlife rescue, you might have a grant pool where wildlife rescue organisations can be in a fair process.
Ms OGILVIE – That’s a good suggestion.
Ms O’CONNOR – Would you like to see more of that?
Ms OGILVIE – That’s a fine suggestion.
Ms O’CONNOR – Sorry, it is very hard to hear. $300,000 going to the Integrity Commission would make all the difference in their capacity to perform their –
CHAIR – They recommended such a system.
Ms O’CONNOR – The Integrity Commission did in fact, when they looked at the 2018 election sports rorts bet.
Ms OGILVIE – It was not sports rorts, and by you keeping saying that does not make it so.
Ms O’CONNOR – (inaudible)
Ms OGILVIE – No, it doesn’t. Now what I would like to –
Ms O’CONNOR – It was subject to a thorough investigation by the Integrity Commission which found significant flaws in the way fund was dispersed.
Ms OGILVIE – I don’t think anybody was – I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole with you because what I’m trying to do is somewhat agree with you about the fairness of competitive grant processes which is actually at the core of your statement.
