Minister Courtney has revealed the Liberals’ plans to extend licences to shoot native wildlife, including wombats suffering from sarcoptic mange.
Community groups, wildlife carers and conservation organisations point to localised extinctions of wombats at places such as narawntapu National Park.
The Government has caved into gun owners once again by allowing farmers to apply for crop protection permits every five years instead of annually.
The wombat deaths in Kelso in Northern Tasmania, as a result of an intentionally-lit gorse fire, are a tragic loss for the local wildlife population.
The severe outbreak of wombat mange in 2010 has led to a likely extinction of the wombat population in Narawntapu National Park.
A ban on crop protection permits being issued for wombats is the only way to prevent localised extinction and ensure survival of the species.
has the Minister reassessed his cull permit system, considering the outbreak of mange in the wombat population and the localised extinctions?
Andrea Dawkins questions the Minister over the issuing of culling permits for wombats while community members are treating them to combat sarcoptic mange.
The government's announcement of $100,000 is a positive step, but much more needs to be done to save the wombat population from the spread of sarcoptic mange.