Mr WOOD - 2005-02-17
Yesterday, you spoke about the government’s contribution to Frogwatch. Frogwatch is doing a great job, and I am wearing one of their toad buster shirts today. They have also produced this specially designed cane toad trap, which they are selling in the hope that people will have traps in their backyards to reduce the number of toads. However, it would be true to say that, no matter how many are caught, some toads will survive and they will threaten our wildlife, such as quolls.
Does your government intend to relax its wildlife laws so that private individuals, Aboriginal groups, farmers and pastoralists can be encouraged to breed in captivity those species we know that are threatened by the entry of cane toads? Or will the government continue to make it so difficult that, by the time they agree to change this, the threatened species may not exist any more?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I pointed out to the House yesterday, this government is investing $300 000 in what is known as the Island Ark project, where threatened species are taken to islands offshore and their viability is assured. We are certainly willing to work with any research institutions and others who are interested in the preservation of our biodiversity.
In answer to your question, and I am expressing a personal view here, the regulation of captivity and breeding of wildlife has to be closely monitored. Some people want to make a profit out of these things. Some people might not keep the wildlife up to standard, and that is why we have our wildlife park here in the Top End. If people have specific proposals regarding what they want to do, I am more than prepared to look at that.
Does your government intend to relax its wildlife laws so that private individuals, Aboriginal groups, farmers and pastoralists can be encouraged to breed in captivity those species we know that are threatened by the entry of cane toads? Or will the government continue to make it so difficult that, by the time they agree to change this, the threatened species may not exist any more?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, as I pointed out to the House yesterday, this government is investing $300 000 in what is known as the Island Ark project, where threatened species are taken to islands offshore and their viability is assured. We are certainly willing to work with any research institutions and others who are interested in the preservation of our biodiversity.
In answer to your question, and I am expressing a personal view here, the regulation of captivity and breeding of wildlife has to be closely monitored. Some people want to make a profit out of these things. Some people might not keep the wildlife up to standard, and that is why we have our wildlife park here in the Top End. If people have specific proposals regarding what they want to do, I am more than prepared to look at that.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016