Ms LAWRIE - 2005-02-16
The arrival of cane toads is of concern to the residents of Karama and Malak. Can you update the Assembly on new initiatives aimed at slowing the spread and reducing the impact of cane toads in the Top End?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. I know she has had a viable interest in the issue of cane toads and chaired a committee of this parliament into this particular issue.
Mr Dunham: You did not adopt any of the recommendations.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please cease a moment. Member for Drysdale, I do not know what is wrong with you today, but cease.
Mr Dunham: I am emotional regarding cane toads, Madam Speaker, and …
Madam SPEAKER: I am emotional about people interjecting too often; just remember that.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, it was my pleasure to announce $422 000 of extra funding over the next 18 months to the community group Frogwatch, which has taken a very active role in trying to combat the spread of cane toads. Recently, Parks and Wildlife have funded Frogwatch to test what they call ‘super traps’, which have proved to be very effective in reducing cane toad numbers, up to 90% in some areas. It is proposed that Frogwatch be funded over the next 18 months, particularly with community support, to carry out what is known as ‘toad musters’, where they will thin out the toads as they advance towards Darwin and, hopefully, lessen the impact on our environment and our lifestyle.
This is in line with other commitments which this government has made over the last year in relation to cane toads, to a total of over $1.1m. Members will recall that we invested $300 000 in biological research with CSIRO to try to find a vector that may profoundly affect the cane toad, similar to the calicivirus and myxomatosis with rabbits. We have also invested $300 000 in the Island Ark project, where threatened species are moved to island habitats, plus $80 000 for the trialling of traps, including a competition for a backyard trap. On top of that, $422 000 over 18 months of new money to combat the toad, utilising a very well-known and respected community group, Frogwatch, which is very active. I might add that we are laying $422 000 on the table, and today I have sent a letter to my federal counterpart to ask that they match that dollar for dollar, which I believe is only fair.
In addition, I was successful in getting the toad as a threatening process put on the agenda at the Commonwealth level, and there is some high level work going on within that ministerial council. This has been a very active government in trying to combat the cane toads, which is in stark contrast to the current opposition and what they did over 27 years, which was next to nothing. In fact, some of them were so blind that they did not even realise that the cane toad was in the Northern Territory. I refer to the member for Greatorex. He put out a media release on 21 November 2002, which I am more than willing to table it, member for Greatorex:
One of the dot points there is the spread of cane toads. Well, member for Greatorex, as you should know, the cane toads were in the Territory long before this Labor government came to power and your party did very little to it. In a radio interview with ABC Alice Springs in November 2002, he would not acknowledge that cane toads were a problem while the CLP were in power:
Member for Greatorex, as the interviewer pointed out in this interview, she said she was in Borroloola five or six or years ago and they were hopping all around the place.
Madam Speaker, this is a government that is working with the community to try to minimise the effects of cane toads, in stark contrast to the previous government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. I know she has had a viable interest in the issue of cane toads and chaired a committee of this parliament into this particular issue.
Mr Dunham: You did not adopt any of the recommendations.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, please cease a moment. Member for Drysdale, I do not know what is wrong with you today, but cease.
Mr Dunham: I am emotional regarding cane toads, Madam Speaker, and …
Madam SPEAKER: I am emotional about people interjecting too often; just remember that.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, it was my pleasure to announce $422 000 of extra funding over the next 18 months to the community group Frogwatch, which has taken a very active role in trying to combat the spread of cane toads. Recently, Parks and Wildlife have funded Frogwatch to test what they call ‘super traps’, which have proved to be very effective in reducing cane toad numbers, up to 90% in some areas. It is proposed that Frogwatch be funded over the next 18 months, particularly with community support, to carry out what is known as ‘toad musters’, where they will thin out the toads as they advance towards Darwin and, hopefully, lessen the impact on our environment and our lifestyle.
This is in line with other commitments which this government has made over the last year in relation to cane toads, to a total of over $1.1m. Members will recall that we invested $300 000 in biological research with CSIRO to try to find a vector that may profoundly affect the cane toad, similar to the calicivirus and myxomatosis with rabbits. We have also invested $300 000 in the Island Ark project, where threatened species are moved to island habitats, plus $80 000 for the trialling of traps, including a competition for a backyard trap. On top of that, $422 000 over 18 months of new money to combat the toad, utilising a very well-known and respected community group, Frogwatch, which is very active. I might add that we are laying $422 000 on the table, and today I have sent a letter to my federal counterpart to ask that they match that dollar for dollar, which I believe is only fair.
In addition, I was successful in getting the toad as a threatening process put on the agenda at the Commonwealth level, and there is some high level work going on within that ministerial council. This has been a very active government in trying to combat the cane toads, which is in stark contrast to the current opposition and what they did over 27 years, which was next to nothing. In fact, some of them were so blind that they did not even realise that the cane toad was in the Northern Territory. I refer to the member for Greatorex. He put out a media release on 21 November 2002, which I am more than willing to table it, member for Greatorex:
- Since coming to government, several environmental issues have occurred in the Territory which have caused major concern …
One of the dot points there is the spread of cane toads. Well, member for Greatorex, as you should know, the cane toads were in the Territory long before this Labor government came to power and your party did very little to it. In a radio interview with ABC Alice Springs in November 2002, he would not acknowledge that cane toads were a problem while the CLP were in power:
- We did not have them because it was not a Territory problem at this stage and it was never considered that they would come this far this quickly. The incursions have only occurred in the last 12 to 18 months and I believe the parliamentary committee could have at least looked at it in greater detail …
Member for Greatorex, as the interviewer pointed out in this interview, she said she was in Borroloola five or six or years ago and they were hopping all around the place.
Madam Speaker, this is a government that is working with the community to try to minimise the effects of cane toads, in stark contrast to the previous government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016