Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, the State of the Environment report, which was issued a decade late after two statutory deadlines were not met by the government you’re part of, on page 41, it recommends the removal of protections of wild fallow deer from regulatory frameworks, including the Nature Conservation Wildlife Regulations of 2023. Given that we’ve just heard from Mr Jacobi that the department is, first of all, having to do surveys of deer, but also hiring professional shooters to help land owners manage their deer. That’s an expense that comes out of the public purse. There’s the cost of farmers; I’ve spoken to farmers who are paying $60,000 or $80,000 a year to try to control deer on their properties and that is a hit to their productivity and their profits.
Why is the government intent on providing this protection under legislation for a feral species which is causing so much damage and so much loss?
Ms HOWLETT – The Tasmanian Wild Fallow Deer Management Plan 2022‑27 and associated implementation strategy combined to provide the Tasmanian government’s blueprint.
Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, with respect, sorry, can I ask, I don’t think it’s good enough that every time you’re asked a question you refer to a brief and not answer the question. The question is why is the Tasmanian government providing a protection under law to a damaging feral species which is costing farmers and taxpayers a bomb?
Ms HOWLETT – Well –
Ms O’CONNOR – I don’t want you to read out another brief. I don’t think it’s fair to the committee.
Ms HOWLETT – I won’t be told what to do by you, Ms O’Connor. I too was very pleased to see the State of Environment report tabled in parliament last week. The report has been prepared by the Tasmanian Planning Commission and I note the responsible minister is a Minister for Housing and Planning. I acknowledge the important role of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania has played contributing data and reviewing reports for 17 of the environmental indicators, as well as providing input through the preparation of case studies and other feedback where appropriate.
Ms O’CONNOR – You are still not answering the question.
Ms HOWLETT – The State of Environment report is an important means of documenting baseline environmental data trends and risks across Tasmania.
Ms O’CONNOR – Point of order, Chair.
CHAIR – Minister, can you please wait a moment.
Ms O’CONNOR – I ask you as Chair to help the minister to answer questions that are asked rather than reverting to a brief that goes nowhere near the question.
CHAIR – Minister, I appreciate that you do have a lot of information. Sadly, we don’t have as much time as what we’d like. If it is possible to get directly to the question or if you need to then hand the question, that would probably be helpful. We understand that there is a lot of information, but we don’t have enough time to listen to a lot of briefs, but we appreciate what you are trying to share with the committee.
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Chair. The report is broad ranging in scope, significant in length and highly technical in nature. It touches on many areas of government, industry and community responsibility and will bring important information and take time to consider the findings and I can hand you over to the Secretary of the department.
Ms O’CONNOR – Before you do that, because I don’t think it’s fair to fob that question off to the Secretary, it’s actually a political question. It’s a policy question because government has made a decision to protect a damaging species under nature conservation regulations. It’s not for Mr Jacobi to have to try to answer that. It’s a policy decision that’s made by government.
Ms HOWLETT – As I said, the report was handed down, tabled in parliament last week, Ms O’Connor, and I know the report’s recommendations to continue to implement the plan –
Ms O’CONNOR – The recommendation is to remove the protection over the fallow deer under nature conservation regulations.
Ms HOWLETT – We will take our time as a government to review that plan.
Ms O’CONNOR – I bet you don’t take on the shooting lobby.
CHAIR – Thank you. It is not an opportunity for a conversation engagement, it is a question and answer process here. I just hope that members might put their mind and the other side of the table as well. So, thank you.
