Ms FYLES - 2013-10-10
A local group which has worked hard to limit the impact of cane toads on our unique Territory wildlife is FrogWatch. With rains starting, cane toads are on the march again and there are reports of cane toads in the Palmerston region. How do you explain your government’s mean-spirited decision to remove all grant funding from FrogWatch? Cutting $200 000 means less will be done to stop the spread of cane toads. Have you thrown in the towel on the CLP government doing its fair share to stop the spread of cane toads?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. It gives me an opportunity to correct the record regarding the article in the NT News yesterday.
Let me be clear, this government did not cut the funding for FrogWatch. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I can advise the House the $200 000 paid to FrogWatch was never funded by Labor through any budget. Parks and Wildlife was directed to fund FrogWatch from within its existing budget. This meant money was taken away from supporting our parks and rangers to keep them clean, tidy and operational to pay for FrogWatch.
This money has now been given back to the operational areas within Parks and Wildlife to improve our standard of service within the parks. This means more money for our 87 parks and reserves to look after nearly three million visitors every year, and to take care of over four million hectares of land we manage.
Madam Speaker, I am excited to be the Minister for Parks and Wildlife. I cannot wait to get out to the amazing parks and reserves we have.
Ms Walker: Come to Nhulunbuy, and talk to Dhimurru Rangers about why they lost their senior ranger.
Mrs PRICE: I have been to Nhulunbuy.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nightcliff for her question. It gives me an opportunity to correct the record regarding the article in the NT News yesterday.
Let me be clear, this government did not cut the funding for FrogWatch. The contract was terminated by mutual agreement, effective 31 March 2013.
I can advise the House the $200 000 paid to FrogWatch was never funded by Labor through any budget. Parks and Wildlife was directed to fund FrogWatch from within its existing budget. This meant money was taken away from supporting our parks and rangers to keep them clean, tidy and operational to pay for FrogWatch.
This money has now been given back to the operational areas within Parks and Wildlife to improve our standard of service within the parks. This means more money for our 87 parks and reserves to look after nearly three million visitors every year, and to take care of over four million hectares of land we manage.
Madam Speaker, I am excited to be the Minister for Parks and Wildlife. I cannot wait to get out to the amazing parks and reserves we have.
Ms Walker: Come to Nhulunbuy, and talk to Dhimurru Rangers about why they lost their senior ranger.
Mrs PRICE: I have been to Nhulunbuy.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016