Mr WOOD - 2003-11-27
Bearing in mind that the cane toad will soon arrive in the Darwin region, does the government have a policy which would allow private land owners to be permitted to develop and manage captive breeding programs for the northern quoll, for example, outside of the Parks and Wildlife regime?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I believe the matter of the cane toads and the intrusion of the cane toads into the Northern Territory has been discussed recently by the relevant committee, which made recommendations to government. Government is examining these recommendations to find a solution because the cane toads are a very big problem. We understand it is going to have a significant impact on our wildlife.
We are trying to save some of our species by organising a Territory Ark, by relocating animals on isolated islands, trying to prevent the extinction of these animals, especially of the quoll. However, my department is open to suggestions. We are prepared to do anything to rescue wildlife in the Territory because, unfortunately, the previous government did nothing for all those years. They knew very well …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, if I recall, the Labor government has been in power for only two years, and for the past 27 years we have had a CLP government. The problem with the cane toads has been identified in Australia since 1945 when scientists were claiming that the impact of cane toads in the Northern Territory would be significant.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There was a three volume paper tabled in this parliament that does not make those recommendations. It is about to be debated.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr DUNHAM: The point of order is, a committee of this parliament has made recommendations, none of which include what the minister is talking about. He is reflecting on a committee of this parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I will continue. There is scientific evidence of the damage cane toads will do to Territory wildlife and that of north Western Australia. Despite that, nothing was done. Nothing has been done for the past 10 or 15 years.
Mr Dunham: Rubbish! You liar! You liar!
Mr KIELY: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale, withdraw. Withdraw!
Mr DUNHAM: Madam Speaker, I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: I suggest you sit down, because you are on a warning. Do not interrupt like that again. I do not know what the people from Katherine are thinking. Your manners are appalling today.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker. Whilst I agree entirely that the member should withdraw that comment, he is provoked because the minister is actually slandering a former senior public servant of the Northern Territory, a person who enjoys high respect in the Northern Territory and it should not occur.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, continue your answer.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I do not criticise any public servant at all because, after all, the responsibility lies with the government and the responsible minister. It does not matter what was suggested by any public servant to the then government; it was a decision of the government and the then minister, the former member for Katherine, Mr Mike Reed.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I will continue, member for Nelson. I am prepared to accept any recommendation from any member of the public, or any scientist, because I consider the threat of cane toads to the Territory’s wildlife as a very serious threat.
Mr Baldwin: What an outrageous statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, I am waiting for quiet. You know that.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I believe the matter of the cane toads and the intrusion of the cane toads into the Northern Territory has been discussed recently by the relevant committee, which made recommendations to government. Government is examining these recommendations to find a solution because the cane toads are a very big problem. We understand it is going to have a significant impact on our wildlife.
We are trying to save some of our species by organising a Territory Ark, by relocating animals on isolated islands, trying to prevent the extinction of these animals, especially of the quoll. However, my department is open to suggestions. We are prepared to do anything to rescue wildlife in the Territory because, unfortunately, the previous government did nothing for all those years. They knew very well …
Members interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, if I recall, the Labor government has been in power for only two years, and for the past 27 years we have had a CLP government. The problem with the cane toads has been identified in Australia since 1945 when scientists were claiming that the impact of cane toads in the Northern Territory would be significant.
Mr DUNHAM: A point of order, Madam Speaker! There was a three volume paper tabled in this parliament that does not make those recommendations. It is about to be debated.
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr DUNHAM: The point of order is, a committee of this parliament has made recommendations, none of which include what the minister is talking about. He is reflecting on a committee of this parliament.
Madam SPEAKER: No, there is no point of order.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I will continue. There is scientific evidence of the damage cane toads will do to Territory wildlife and that of north Western Australia. Despite that, nothing was done. Nothing has been done for the past 10 or 15 years.
Mr Dunham: Rubbish! You liar! You liar!
Mr KIELY: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Member for Drysdale, withdraw. Withdraw!
Mr DUNHAM: Madam Speaker, I withdraw.
Madam SPEAKER: I suggest you sit down, because you are on a warning. Do not interrupt like that again. I do not know what the people from Katherine are thinking. Your manners are appalling today.
Mr BURKE: A point of order, Madam Speaker. Whilst I agree entirely that the member should withdraw that comment, he is provoked because the minister is actually slandering a former senior public servant of the Northern Territory, a person who enjoys high respect in the Northern Territory and it should not occur.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister, continue your answer.
Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I do not criticise any public servant at all because, after all, the responsibility lies with the government and the responsible minister. It does not matter what was suggested by any public servant to the then government; it was a decision of the government and the then minister, the former member for Katherine, Mr Mike Reed.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Mr VATSKALIS: I will continue, member for Nelson. I am prepared to accept any recommendation from any member of the public, or any scientist, because I consider the threat of cane toads to the Territory’s wildlife as a very serious threat.
Mr Baldwin: What an outrageous statement.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Daly, I am waiting for quiet. You know that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016