Ms BADGER – Just my final two rapid fire questions to finish us off possibly. Minister, what level RAA is the public land going to be going through to be opened up to recreational shooting?
What additional resources have been allocated to foxglove since it’s been a declared species?
Mr PEARCE – Bear with me on that. Foxglove is not something that comes up everyday, but it’s a terrible thing. In fact, it’s poisonous. Weed management is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration between different levels of government. At stage 3 – Weed Action Fund, commenced in September 2025 with projects covering priority weeds and specific regions of the state. It builds on the over $6 million investment that we’ve had on tackling weeds in the state between 2019 and 2025 through the Weeds Action Fund stages 1 and 2. We are committed to working with farmers and councils and community organisations and the like.
Ms BADGER – Thanks minister. In the interest of time, I kept my questions short. They’re pretty simple. I’m just wondering if I can grab that RAA?
CHAIR – Ms Badger.
Ms BADGER – We’ve got to ten past. Continue on. I love hearing about foxglove. Keep going.
CHAIR – Is my microphone working? I’m just checking because I talk but no one’s listening. I was about to say, we go through until 7.16 p.m.. I’m trying to help you. Please continue, minister.
Ms BADGER – Possibly not for 17 minutes though.
Mr PEARCE – I do realise the importance of foxglove eradication because as I said, it’s an invasive weed and it can be poisonous at certain times of its life cycle.
Foxglove, the digitalis species, in fact, was declared a pest under the Biosecurity Act 2019 on 19 February 2025. This declaration prohibits the sale of non-sterile Foxglove species and applies the regulation and management of Foxglove designated areas and includes Tasmanian wilderness, which you’d be interested in, and World Heritage areas, which I know is important. Requirements for the control and management of foxglove in designated areas is detailed in the Foxglove Biosecurity Program. A key objective is to eradicate that weed from the environment. Biosecurity Tasmania officers, through the provision of advice, will support landowners and managers to develop their own plans to remove that and eradicate it. Do you want me to continue?
Ms BADGER – If it’s the answer to the question, which is what additional resources are there? For example, there was one biosecurity officer for the TWWHA before – is that still the current employment numbers? And just on the RAA.
Mr PEARCE – Weed Action Fund will assist in that. The Weed Action Fund aims to deliver long term strategic outcomes by tackling such serious weeds that you’ve mentioned.
Funding for the Weed Action Fund, it commenced in 2018‑19 with $5 million over 5 years. It was followed by an additional $1.4 million over 2 years on the 2023‑24 Budget. Funding is delivered through grants to landowners, organisations and other key stakeholders involved in weed management. In kind contribution from landowners to date total $4.8 million. Its incredible people want to get behind as a community and eradicate these weeds from the environment.
Stage 3 of that Weed Action Fund is being delivered by NRE Tasmania and we’re working closely with them. It consists of six major projects covering specific regions and weed species across Tasmania, including the north‑west and western Tasmania priority weeds, the Furneaux Group, Invasive Perennial Grasses in northern and western Tasmania, Invasive Grasses in southern and eastern Tasmania and as you asked before Foxglove Education and Awareness and Emerging Priority Weed Threats. There are currently 86 authorised weed officers who have attended specific weed compliance training under the Biosecurity Act in Tasmania across the state and local government organisations. Biosecurity Tasmania have 24, other states have 8 and local government has 54. It just answers your question about personnel.
Ms BADGER – Thank you. The RAA level for the public land?
Mr JACOBI – Through you, Minister. Just to clarify your other question, there are four biosecurity officers in the department dedicated to the TWWHA and at this point in time, whilst we’re still undertaking an analysis of the parcels for deer, it looks likely to be level 2 RAAs.
