At least 300 trees to be cleared from Hyde Park as part of shot-hole borer blitz
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on Wednesday said it was working with the City of Vincent to remove up to 300 host plants — including native and non-WA native trees — from the lake's two islands over the next four to six weeks.
DPIRD would not confirm how many infected trees had been removed since works began on May 19.
'The only WA native species on the Hyde Park islands are Melaleuca rhaphiophylla and Eucalyptus rudis,' a spokesperson told The West.
'Other species being removed include eastern states Casuarina spp. Melaleuca spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and non-native woody weeds including Erythrina x sykesii and Ficus sp.'
The PSHB — which is native to southeast Asia — is a small beetle which burrows into trees and infects them with a fungus that slowly kills them from the inside.
The only way to eradicate the beetle is to remove the infected trees.
'DPIRD is continuing to work in close collaboration with the City of Vincent to manage PSHB in Hyde Park, as part of the nationally funded and coordinated emergency bio-security response,' the spokesperson said.
'PSHB surveillance and management will continue in Hyde Park to protect the high value fig and London plane trees.'
Thirteen infested trees at Hyde Park have already been removed, with another 33 pruned to their limit.
A further 45 have been treated with insecticides as part of an ongoing chemical trial.
City of Vincent mayor Alison Xamon said she was 'deeply saddened' to hear the beetle had burrowed its way onto the lake's islands.
She said the city would plant up to 4000 new plants and mature trees on the lake's islands.
'Losing the tree is the last thing anyone wants to see, but DPIRD have determined this precaution is necessary to stop the borer spreading to other healthy trees at the park,' Ms Xamon told The West.
'Following DPIRD's works, we will be acting quickly on our three-year restoration program which has been formed in partnership with industry experts.
'About 4000 new plants, that will be resilient to the borer and climate change, will be planted on the islands this winter including mature trees.
'We previously restored the eastern island in 2012, which gives us confidence that our program will see the islands flourish again.'
It comes just days after the State Government announced local councils could apply for the first round of its WA Tree Recovery Local Government Grant Program.
Councils can receive up to $1140 in funding for each tree that is removed as a result of PSHB, but the City of Vincent is yet to apply for funding.
PSHB has been confirmed in more than 80 suburbs across Perth since it was first detected in August 2021.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
9 News
3 hours ago
- 9 News
Iran says UN nuclear watchdog official will visit country for talks
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A senior official from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog will fly to Iran for talks today, but no visit to nuclear sites is planned, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. Since Israel launched its first military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites during a 12-day war in June, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been unable to access Iran's facilities, despite IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stating that inspections remain his top priority. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31, which led the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors to declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Iran, which denies seeking nuclear weapons, said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). "Negotiations with the IAEA will be held tomorrow to determine a framework for cooperation," Araghchi said on his Telegram account. "A Deputy Director General of Grossi will come to Tehran tomorrow, while there are no plans to visit any nuclear sites until we reach a framework." This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a close view of the Isfahan nuclear technology in Iran after U.S. strikes, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP) (AP) Last month, Iran enacted a law passed by parliament suspending cooperation with the IAEA. The law stipulates that any future inspection of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA needs approval by Tehran's Supreme National Security Council. CONTACT US Auto news: Honda here to stay in Australia, announces growth plans.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Our tax system is broken': Economist defends proposal to raise GST to 15 per cent
The expert behind a proposal to hike the GST to 15 per cent has defended the controversial plan, saying Australia's tax system is 'broken' and needs 'bold change'. Ahead of Labor's Economic Reform Roundtable next week, UNSW economist Professor Richard Holden and WA Teal MP Kate Chaney have floated a radical plan to overhaul Australia's tax system — by raising the rate of the goods and services tax (GST) for the first time since it was introduced at the turn of the century. Under the proposal — which has already been ruled out by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese — the GST would by raised from 10 per cent to 15 per cent and broadened to include fresh food, health, childcare and education. To soften the blow, all taxpayers would receive a $3300 annual rebate, effectively removing the GST on the first $22,000 of someone's spending. 'I think there's no doubt that our tax system is broken and it's time for a bold change, but I want to give them something back in return,' Prof Holden told Nine's A Current Affair on Thursday night. According to Parliamentary Budget Office costings, the plan would raise an additional $95.2 billion for the government in its first year of operation, minus the $3300 rebate to every adult. Low and middle-income earners would be up to $371 better off, but the top 20 per cent of earners would be $2200 worse off. That would leave the government with an additional $24 billion a year. 'The Parliamentary Budget Office has gone through that and they say that on average the bottom 60 per cent of income earners would be better off,' Prof Holden said. He argued the overhaul would give the government room to cut Australia's income tax rates, which are among the highest in the world. 'What this would do after the compensation is leave you with enough money to cut the top marginal tax rate from 45 per cent to 40 per cent, [and] the second marginal tax rate from 37 per cent to 32.5 per cent,' he said. Ms Chaney denied the $3300 rebate was a 'bribe'. 'No, it's simply returning the GST on the first $22,000,' she told the program. 'What we're saying is we need more tax, paid by people who can afford to spend more. We have one of the lowest GST in OECD countries, about half the average, so by bringing the GST more in line with other countries we will actually be able to have personal income tax cuts and fix the budget.' She conceded a 5 per cent increase to the GST would 'probably' cause a 'one-off shift' in inflation. While Mr Albanese ruled out the proposal, Ms Chaney said she hoped it 'starts a conversation' ahead of the next election. 'It's politically really scary for people to talk about tax and I understand that, but if someone doesn't start it then we're never going to make any progress at all,' she said. Host Ally Langdon pressed Ms Chaney on why more could not be done to cut wasteful government spending instead of raising taxes. 'I would like it if the budget actually matched up each year,' Ms Chaney said. 'The reality is we've got an ageing population which means more health costs, more aged care costs, we have an NDIS, we want to support people with disabilities. People do expect a lot from government services.' Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne on Thursday, Labor MP Andrew Leigh said while he liked Prof Holden, the government had no plans to touch the GST. 'The Prime Minister and the Treasurer have a longstanding view on the on the GST,' he said. 'The government isn't doing any modelling at the moment and doesn't have any plans to change the GST.' Dr Leigh argued there were 'more efficient taxes than the GST'. 'It hasn't been at the centre of the conversation around productivity,' he said. 'There was certainly more discussion around corporate tax, and that's been a matter that has occupied much more discussion from the Productivity Commission for example, which has thought more about investment allowances and company taxes than it has about expenditure taxes.' Asked whether he supported Ms Chaney's proposal, Mr Albanese on Thursday replied, 'Governments make government policy … the only tax policy that we're implementing, is the one that we took to the election.' That includes Labor's legislated $5-a-week tax cuts which would grow to $10-a-week in the 2027-28 financial year, and the push to double taxes on superannuation accounts over $3 million to 30 per cent. Mr Albanese noted there would be a 'range of ideas floated' ahead of the Economic Reform Roundtable set to take place from August 19 to 21, adding that people are 'entitled to put forward their views'. Despite this, the PM has rejected increases to consumption taxes, like GST, stating they were 'regressive in nature'. On Sunday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) unveiled its own proposal, calling for cuts to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions for property investors to be limited to just one property, following a five-year grandfathering period. Asked about the ACTU plan on Wednesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers noted the government's longstanding promise to not adjust negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, but said he didn't want to 'get in the habit of knocking off ideas before we get in the room'. 'The guidelines I've put around people's contribution is to make sure that there's specific ideas, that they're affordable, that they're in the national interest and people try and engage with each other and not just the government on them,' he said. 'Some people have embraced that challenge, others haven't. I've tried not to kind of engage in a daily running commentary on every idea that's pitched up.' Meanwhile, the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), in its submission to the roundtable, has called for reform to the tax system to raise more revenue, reduce inequality and drive action to address climate change. 'For too long now, people with plenty have been showered with tax breaks that pull investment away from productive purposes and rob essential public services of the revenue they need,' Dr Goldie said. The council is advocating for changes to employment opportunities and streamlining income support. 'The extra revenue we need to fund care and community services, schools, and an income support system that protects people from poverty must come from those with the most capacity to pay — not those doing it toughest,' ACOSS chief executive Cassandra Goldie said. 'We must better prepare and train people for jobs and finally lift income support to levels that don't trap people in poverty and destitution.' Opposition leader Sussan Ley on Thursday accused the government of using the roundtable to push tax hikes under the guise of productivity reform.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Babies dying from syphilis in Australia ‘of national significance'
Syphilis has officially been declared a 'communicable disease incident of national significance'. Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd made the declaration following record notifications of infectious syphilis and a growing number of preventable congenital syphilis cases resulting in infant deaths. It is a sobering reminder of the health inequities facing rural, remote, and First Nations communities, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) said. The crisis reflects long-standing gaps in access to timely testing, treatment, and antenatal care, despite syphilis being entirely preventable and treatable, ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin said. 'In many rural and remote communities, the local rural generalist is the only doctor available,' Martin said. 'They provide everything from antenatal care to STI screening and treatment, and they must be supported with the workforce, training, and tools to respond effectively.' From January 1 to August 6, Australia has already recorded 3546 cases of infectious syphilis and 11 cases of congenital syphilis, leading to four infant deaths. In 2024, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians had infectious syphilis rates seven times higher than non-Indigenous Australians. Since 2016, more than half of all congenital syphilis cases have occurred in First Nations babies. One in three affected infants have died. In 2023, there were 6566 cases of infectious syphilis and 20 cases of congenital syphilis reported in Australia, resulting in 10 infant deaths. Between 2016 and 2024, 99 cases of congenital syphilis were reported. Of these children, 33 infants died. More than half were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants. 'Every one of those deaths is a tragedy,' Martin said 'We know syphilis often presents without symptoms, but with early testing and treatment, congenital syphilis is entirely preventable.' CRRM continues to work to strengthen culturally safe care and grow a skilled rural generalist workforce, Martin said. To help support rural generalists in delivering high-quality sexual health care, ACRRM has launched a new STI and HIV Care course. The course is designed to give doctors the skills and confidence to conduct evidence-based STI and HIV consultations, assess risk, and manage follow-up care, with content applicable to practice nationwide. 'We're committed to giving rural generalists the tools they need to care for their communities because that's what ultimately saves lives,' Martin said. He urged all Australians who are sexually active, especially those planning for a baby, to get a sexual health check. 'Testing is simple, treatment is effective, and awareness is essential to preventing serious outcomes — including a perinatal death rate of up to 30 per cent.'
