Mr WOOD - 2005-10-19
I thought that might have been obvious, Madam Speaker, I am sorry about that. Oops, it has died.
In 1999, your department entered into an agreement with the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, whereby an albino python captured by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory was leased to a Mr Simon Stone. The conditions of the agreement were that the python was meant to be returned after five years and, if the snake bred, 50% of any offspring of this animal, or money received from the sale of the same, must be returned and paid to the Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Has any offspring been returned to the Northern Territory or any money paid? If money has been paid, how much was paid and how many offspring does that represent? Has the agreement been renewed? Were the conditions originally agreed to complied with before the agreement was renewed? Why has it been so hard to get a simple answer to this question?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This has been a long and convoluted saga, I must say. Can I take as much time as I need with this? As I understand, member for Nelson, you are taking this matter up on behalf of a constituent who has an interest in Snowy, the albino python. It should have more aptly been named Snow White because they might have thought that Snowy was a male. However, she was, in fact, a female.
Yes, member for Nelson, in 1999, the then Northern Territory government entered into an agreement with South Australia to lease an albino python that was caught here for breeding purposes. That agreement went for five years. Part of that agreement was that 50% of that offspring was to be returned or paid to the Northern Territory. Part of that agreement was that Dr Stone would also retain 50%. The contract was up for renewal in 2004; it was then extended, now until 2007.
The snake is still in the care of Dr Stone, who is a well-credentialed reptile scientist. When you look at some of the facts that are coming out of this research project, it is quite fascinating and interesting. Snowy has been bred twice. The first, the F1 litter, that came out of the first breeding program, in genetic terms, produced all normally coloured python – like the python you have over there – as was expected, as the gene for albinism is recessive. The line breeding research then back-crossed the F1 generation to the mother, so the children and the mother. This has been quite interesting research. The F1 progeny and the mother then produced the F2, which then become the second generation progeny. Half of that F2 generation actually was albino. To further line breed and produce an F3 – so that is the progeny of F1 and F2 gives you F3 – takes time as the snakes take about two years to reach reproductive age.
One of the interesting side effects, looking through all this, member for Nelson, is that albino pythons and the gene appears to be associated with temperament. They are actually quite gentle, so they make good pets. If they can be bred as pets, this takes some pressure off the wild harvest.
It is clear that the research project based on Snowy the albino python is producing some valuable and useful results. Dr Stone is abiding by the terms of his agreement with the Northern Territory government and is conducting a very professional research project with all animals belonging to the Northern Territory clearly identified, member for Nelson. The results of the breeding program are properly documented and reported.
We have had some legal advice and have looked at the lease. It is legally binding with the usual contractual obligations attached to it. We cannot breach it and we cannot break it, so that contract will be allowed to run its course. I am satisfied, after having a look at all of those areas, that the terms of the contractual agreement are being rigorously and professionally adhered to. However, if you have advice contrary to that, member for Nelson, you should forward or substantiate that.
Overall, there has been very little monetary gain made by Dr Stone. A lot of the money had to go into the research project. There is a lot of infrastructure and costs associated with that. Clearly, for the Northern Territory, the 50% is certainly documented and recorded so we have a good record of that. When the contract comes to an end in 2007, it can be repatriated back to the Northern Territory and sold under the agreement.
In 1999, your department entered into an agreement with the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage, whereby an albino python captured by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory was leased to a Mr Simon Stone. The conditions of the agreement were that the python was meant to be returned after five years and, if the snake bred, 50% of any offspring of this animal, or money received from the sale of the same, must be returned and paid to the Parks and Wildlife Commission.
Has any offspring been returned to the Northern Territory or any money paid? If money has been paid, how much was paid and how many offspring does that represent? Has the agreement been renewed? Were the conditions originally agreed to complied with before the agreement was renewed? Why has it been so hard to get a simple answer to this question?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. This has been a long and convoluted saga, I must say. Can I take as much time as I need with this? As I understand, member for Nelson, you are taking this matter up on behalf of a constituent who has an interest in Snowy, the albino python. It should have more aptly been named Snow White because they might have thought that Snowy was a male. However, she was, in fact, a female.
Yes, member for Nelson, in 1999, the then Northern Territory government entered into an agreement with South Australia to lease an albino python that was caught here for breeding purposes. That agreement went for five years. Part of that agreement was that 50% of that offspring was to be returned or paid to the Northern Territory. Part of that agreement was that Dr Stone would also retain 50%. The contract was up for renewal in 2004; it was then extended, now until 2007.
The snake is still in the care of Dr Stone, who is a well-credentialed reptile scientist. When you look at some of the facts that are coming out of this research project, it is quite fascinating and interesting. Snowy has been bred twice. The first, the F1 litter, that came out of the first breeding program, in genetic terms, produced all normally coloured python – like the python you have over there – as was expected, as the gene for albinism is recessive. The line breeding research then back-crossed the F1 generation to the mother, so the children and the mother. This has been quite interesting research. The F1 progeny and the mother then produced the F2, which then become the second generation progeny. Half of that F2 generation actually was albino. To further line breed and produce an F3 – so that is the progeny of F1 and F2 gives you F3 – takes time as the snakes take about two years to reach reproductive age.
One of the interesting side effects, looking through all this, member for Nelson, is that albino pythons and the gene appears to be associated with temperament. They are actually quite gentle, so they make good pets. If they can be bred as pets, this takes some pressure off the wild harvest.
It is clear that the research project based on Snowy the albino python is producing some valuable and useful results. Dr Stone is abiding by the terms of his agreement with the Northern Territory government and is conducting a very professional research project with all animals belonging to the Northern Territory clearly identified, member for Nelson. The results of the breeding program are properly documented and reported.
We have had some legal advice and have looked at the lease. It is legally binding with the usual contractual obligations attached to it. We cannot breach it and we cannot break it, so that contract will be allowed to run its course. I am satisfied, after having a look at all of those areas, that the terms of the contractual agreement are being rigorously and professionally adhered to. However, if you have advice contrary to that, member for Nelson, you should forward or substantiate that.
Overall, there has been very little monetary gain made by Dr Stone. A lot of the money had to go into the research project. There is a lot of infrastructure and costs associated with that. Clearly, for the Northern Territory, the 50% is certainly documented and recorded so we have a good record of that. When the contract comes to an end in 2007, it can be repatriated back to the Northern Territory and sold under the agreement.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016