Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE, Mr BARNETT
Thank you, Speaker. There are multiple sites across Lutruwita/Tasmania identified as high importance for bird communities. Wildlife biologists and conservationists have long called for adequate formal protection to no avail. Bird flu is now here and there’s clear evidence birds at the highest risk are coastal colonial birds and waterfowl. We’ve already seen petrels, gulls and our precious crested terns affected. Despite theoretically being protected, activities like hunting, dog walking and four-wheel driving are permitted in areas where threatened wildlife live and breed. These birds are your responsibility, live in reserves but remain unprotected from significant threats. Given this, will you work with the Parks minister to exercise the precautionary principle and properly protect species in areas of significance, like the seabird islands of the Furneaux Group, St Helens Conservation Area, Moulting Lagoon and the Orford Bird Sanctuary?
ANSWER
I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this important matter, as it is an important matter for all of us, not just in this Chamber but across Tasmania. Like the Premier, I put on record my sincere thanks to the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE). They’ve done an incredible job. It’s important that this parliament understands the level of preparation and effort undertaken by our department and agencies, Biosecurity Tasmania in particular. It has been an incredible job and I’m very grateful to Jason Jacobi and the team.
There have been a number of detections of H5 bird flu on King Island and the north‑west coast. Surveillance has been very steadfast and appropriate. There have been no detections in terms of poultry or agriculture at the moment. You made particular reference to a range of seabirds and other birds; I’ll come to that shortly. One of the key areas of preparation has been communication. That has included regular meetings with key stakeholders and members of parliament. There will be further briefings this week. ‘Avoid, record, report’ is the key for members of the community and members in this place. The hotline to do that is 1800 675 888.
Mr Bayley – Threatening activities in reserves, minister, please.
Mr BARNETT – Yes. I give a 100 per cent commitment to be working with the minister for Parks as the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and also with the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, who is responsible for biosecurity, agriculture and primary industries that are so important for Tasmania. You can be assured we have regular briefings. I met with my secretary this morning over the phone with a briefing, as I know the Minister for Primary Industries and Water did. In terms of wildlife and protected species, which was an earlier question from your honourable Leader to which the Premier responded, you’ve asked about some of those species. In the event of an outbreak in native wildlife, any response interventions would be based on risk assessment, considering matters such as animal welfare, biosecurity, public amenity, the number of animals and the practicality of removal or euthanasia. It’s important to note that disturbing wildlife could cause unnecessary stress to the animal and it’s paramount that biosecurity –
The SPEAKER – The honourable Deputy Premier’s time has expired.
Supplementary Question
Mr BAYLEY – My question was explicit to threatening activities in reserves, such as hunting, dog walking and four‑wheel driving. I mentioned a number of different reserves, including Moulting Lagoon and the Orford Bird Sanctuary. You said you were 100 per cent committed and working across the Cabinet. In which case, what strong and specific actions are you taking to protect individual species from these threats in these particular reserves? What steps to protect their habitat will you take into the future?
Mr BARNETT –I can confirm on the record: we do have species-specific plans in terms of the development of those already. Regarding orange‑bellied parrots, I was at the captivity centre at Five Mile Beach, not far from Hobart, last Friday –
Dr Woodruff – Specifically coastal areas.
The SPEAKER – Order.
Mr BARNETT – Well, it was particularly important. They’re critically endangered birds, and I’m very grateful for the tour that was provided to me.
Dr Woodruff – I know. We’ve heard a lot about them.
Mr Bayley – Threatening activities in reserves?
The SPEAKER – Order. Honourable members of the Greens, you do have another question that you can ask. I’ll ask that, in the remaining time, the minister is heard.
Mr BARNETT – The Tasmanian devil, shy albatross, short‑tailed shearwater, Furneaux white‑fronted tern, fairy and little terns, Australian and long‑nosed fur seals, and Australasian gannet, in terms of the communication, I spoke with the secretary this morning –
Mr Bayley – What about the threatening activities: the hunting, dog walking, four‑wheel driving?
Mr BARNETT – and in terms of that, there is a very dedicate and focused approach –
The SPEAKER – Honourable Deputy Leader of the Greens, this is your first warning.
Mr BARNETT – to those birds that you make reference to.
