WA government changes tack on destructive shot-hole borer, but is it ‘too little, too late'?
Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis revealed the change in strategy on Thursday morning after a meeting of the National Management Group the day prior deemed it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer.
Instead, the government has shifted to a 'management' approach that will focus on limiting its spread.
But Invasive Species Council policy director Dr Carol Booth said it was tragic news with 15 native tree species in WA identified as 'highly or very highly susceptible' to the shot-hole borer.
These included iconic species like paperbarks, banksias and eucalypts.
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'Another 23 species are moderately susceptible, and that's just in WA. It implies hundreds of native species across the country could be at risk if the borer spreads,' Booth said.
'We are also gravely concerned about the loss of urban trees, which provide vital habitat, shade, beauty and health benefits in our cities and towns. The environmental and social toll could be immense.
'Now that eradication is off the table, the priority must be stopping the borer from spreading beyond the Perth region.'
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Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Perth Now
State's call on ‘punitive' cat laws
Pet cats could prove to be a key election issue in NSW, activists have warned, after a parliamentary inquiry failed to recommend mandatory containment. A parliamentary inquiry into cat management stopped short of recommending cat containment in a final report released on Monday. The report found NSW 'may not be ready' to adopt mandatory cat containment laws at either a statewide or local government level. Such laws would disproportionately impact people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and Aboriginal communities, the report stated. Invasive Species Council chief executive Jack Gough said the inquiry's findings were 'disappointing', and urged the Premier to 'step up and make these changes'. A parliamentary inquiry into cat management has stopped short of recommending cat containment in NSW. Credit: News Regional Media 'While it's great to see the finding that there's an urgent need to implement cat management strategies for both overpopulation of cats in urban environments and in the bush, in the wild, unfortunately they haven't quite got over the line with recommending the adoption of mandatory cat containment laws,' Mr Gough said. 'We believe there is a mandate from the public (and) from organisations for change, and I expect that sensible politics and policy will prevail here and we will see our native wildlife, and the healthy, happy lives of our pet cats put up high, and that changes to the law that are needed to allow councils to be empowered go through.' Mr Gough said cat containment stood to be a 'big issue' in the run up to the next state election, with an estimated two-thirds of residents in support. Cat containment could be a 'big issue' in the run up at the next NSW state election. NewsWire / Sarah Matray Credit: News Corp Australia The Invasive Species Council estimates some 66 million native animals are killed every year due to 'roaming pet cats'. Currently, NSW was the only state where cat containment powers are not given to local councils, Mr Gough said. In Victoria, some 50 per cent of councils have introduced cat containment measures, while in the ACT the policy is implemented territory-wide. Mr Gough said cat containment was still under serious consideration by the state government. The Companion Animals Act, which dictates the duties of animal owners, is separately under review. Responding to questions about the inquiry's findings, a spokesperson for Local Government Minister Ron Hoening, who oversees the Companion Animals Act, said the government would review the inquiry's findings and respond 'in due course'. 'We recognise people have strong opinions about cats and the impacts they have in our neighbourhoods and on native wildlife,' the spokesperson said. 'It's a complex issue, that's why we asked the upper house to conduct this inquiry. 'The inquiry heard from a range of stakeholders with very different views about the best way to manage cats in our environments. 'The diversity of perspectives highlights the complexity of the issues surrounding cat management and why we need to take a considered approach to any policy changes. 'The findings from this inquiry will also be considered as part of the government's review of the Companion Animals Act which is being looked at for the first time in 20 years.' Dissenting report to inquiry findings The report and its findings drew swift condemnation from parliamentarians, who joined activists groups in calling on Premier Chris Minns to take action. Nationals MLC Scott Barrett has lodged a dissenting statement to the report. He said the report by the Animal Welfare Committee prioritised the rights of cats above native animals. Greens MLC Sue Higginson said councils in NSW are desperate for cat containment laws. NewsWire / Monique Harmer Credit: News Corp Australia 'Cats are doing untold damage to our native wildlife,' he said. 'Even the government agrees they are a persistent, ongoing and critical threat, yet there seems to be an inclination to look for excuses not to take serious action.' Mr Barrett claimed the inquiry focused on whether desexing and releasing wild cats back into the environment was a 'viable alternative to culling' 'Given the enormous amount of damage cats are doing to our native wildlife, I don't know how anyone can take this prospect seriously.' Greens MLC Sue Higginson mirrored those remarks, stating councils in NSW were 'not just ready, they are desperate' for cat containment laws. 'It's not the state government's role to hold back councils from doing the work their communities want them to do,' she said. 'We don't have to have a blanket, statewide approach. We know that some councils are ready, willing, and able, they just need the laws in place and some resources. 'This is absolutely a moment where the Premier can do good for the environment, do good for local councils … and do well for communities.' Ms Higginson said she 'firmly believed' the report did not reflect the needs of communities across NSW, including in the regions. Cat containment could have 'disproportionate' impact The inquiry received more than 500 submissions and a further 741 short submissions ahead of two public hearings earlier this year. Among them was Local Government NSW, which called for amendments to legislation to enable councils to enforcement cat containment. In a statement, LGNSW president Mayor Phyllis Miller said that while the organisation welcomed some positive recommendations from the inquiry, they were disappointed the committee 'did not support enforceable cat containment policies for councils'. 'However, the NSW government is also conducting a Companion Animals Act review and LGNSW will continue to advocate for councils to be able to adopt such policies,' Ms Miller said. 'Containment prevents roaming, predation, uncontrolled breeding and injuries to cats themselves from vehicle strikes and other animals. 'We welcome the committee's call for urgent cat management strategies, including funding for free and subsidised desexing, as well as education and behaviour change programs. NSW is the only state where cat containment powers are not given to local councils. Brenton Edwards Credit: News Corp Australia 'Effective management requires a holistic approach: statewide education, desexing, containment, trapping, and adequate funding for councils, welfare and rehoming organisations.' Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst chaired the parliamentary inquiry. She said the inquiry did not hear any 'real evidence' to support cat containment as being effective. 'I think it's something that can continue to be considered going forward, but we really need that evidence base,' she said. 'There's no actual evidence that actually introducing mandatory cat containment laws will actually work to protect wildlife.' Ms Hurst urged for a number of reforms to be contemplated first, including rental rights for pet owners, as well as desexing and feral cats. She described mandatory cat containment as 'punitive', and said it would predominantly affect people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 'We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis,' she said. 'Cats might be the only companion that some people have. 'If that cat escapes, gets outside, is picked up by the pound, and then that person's facing an impounding fee, they're then facing the costs of being able to retrieve that companion and bring them back and then they're facing another fine on top of that of failing to be able to keep that cat contained inside their property. 'They're looking at some quite hefty sort of punitive laws here and the real fear that came forward at the inquiry was people were concerned that.' Ms Hurst also raised concerns about the cost to councils of enforcing mandatory containment.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Kalgoorlie remembers 'maverick' federal MP Graeme Campbell
Former member for the West Australian federal seat of Kalgoorlie Graeme Campbell has died, aged 86. His family posted on social media that he died early Saturday morning at Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital. Mr Campbell entered politics as a member of the Labor Party after a career as a pastoralist on the remote Nullarbor Plain. He went on to serve as the member for Kalgoorlie for 18 years, and is remembered by contemporaries as a "colourful" political maverick. Originally from Oxfordshire in England, Mr Campbell's family emigrated to Australia when he was a child. He grew up in South Australia and went on to establish Kybo Station, a remote pastoral property on the sparse Nullarbor, with his brother Rod Campbell. It was at Kybo he met his wife Michele Lelievre, now Campbell, a French woman who had stopped at the station while on a trip around Australia. Ms Campbell told the ABC in 2018 she had heard about the Campbell brothers long before heading towards the Nullarbor Plain. "I looked at him and thought, 'Definitely, I will stay,' so that was how I met him." The couple later married and moved to Kalgoorlie, where Mr Campbell worked in mining before turning his attention to politics. Mr Campbell joined the Labor Party in 1980, and was elected as the federal member for Kalgoorlie, a position he held for 17 years and 11 months. He was known for his pro-mining and anti-immigration views. In 1988, he challenged then prime minister Paul Keating and crossed the floor in opposition to the government's plan to remove company tax exemptions from gold miners. Former member for O'Connor, Tony Crook, said the move cemented Mr Campbell as a man of the people. Mr Campbell was disendorsed by the Labor Party for his outspoken views, and resigned from the party just prior to the 1996 election. He went on to run as an independent and won, retaining his seat for another two years. In a statement to the ABC, Mr Campbell's family said winning the 1996 election as an independent was one of his proudest moments. "Graeme found special connection to the people of regional Western Australia. "He was deeply honoured to be able to represent his people as the federal member for the seat of Kalgoorlie." Mr Crook said Mr Campbell's "maverick" style left an incredible legacy in Kalgoorlie politics. "For Graeme to leave [the Labor Party] and win the federal seat as an independent was huge," he said. "That was why I crossed the floor as many times as I did [in my own career]." Member for Kalgoorlie Ali Kent agreed Mr Campbell's "maverick" label was warranted. "He liked not ever conforming, he always liked to have his own way of doing things." Ms Kent said Mr Campbell's passion for local issues continued after he left politics. "Right to the end, he would be at the voting booths … he would always want to have a conversation with you," she said. Boulder resident and former chair of the Goldfields Transport Board, Doug Daws, first met Mr Campbell when he was in the Transport Workers Union and the pair came to loggerheads. Mr Daws said despite their disagreements, they went on to become good friends. "Graham was a great arguer for better things for the Goldfields … and sometimes it wasn't easy for him to do that," he said. He remembered fondly when Mr Campbell was meant to be promoting a prospective emu leather and meat farm near Wiluna. "He came to a meeting with a pair of these [emu leather] shoes on and he told everybody … they were the most uncomfortable shoes he's ever worn in his life," Mr Daws said. Mr Daws said Mr Campbell would be remembered for his tenacity and passion for the Goldfields. "He picked up causes and fought for them valiantly, sometimes against overwhelming odds … and his efforts are well recorded in the Hansard of federal parliament," he said. "He was a very able representative of this district [and] he was a hell of a good bloke. "He'll be sadly missed." Mr Campbell leaves behind his wife Michele and two sons, Ainsley and Leyland, who said they were overwhelmed with the outpouring of community sentiment. "We are honoured and thankful to have had him as our husband and father," the family statement read.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti blames Covid-19, Russian President Vladimir Putin for botched contactless payment upgrades
The West Australian government is under fire after it attributed blame for the botched installation of a contactless payment service for busses on Covid-19 and the invasion of Ukraine. Commuters in Perth were told that by 2019 they would be able to use bank cards to tap on and off of busses in the city. However, six years on, the system is well behind schedule and remains in the development phase. The delay prompted shadow transport minister Steve Martin to submit a question on notice, leading to the extraordinary attempt to shift blame from the state government. In response to Mr Martin's question a private secretary for Transport Minister Rita Saffioti claimed the delay was due to factors outside the government's control. 'The SmartRider Upgrade Project has been impacted by the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as well as software development issues,' the reply said. Mr Martin described the excuses as extraordinary. 'Is there anyone in the Cook ministry that is willing to take responsibility for any single delay, problem or budget blowout? With this mob it's always someone else's fault,' he said. 'What's the next excuse? The Minister's handling of the transport portfolio has become a farce.' A spokeswoman for WA's Public Transport Authority acknowledged the program had experienced 'some technical and resource challenges'. Those challenges included 'disrupted access' to a Ukraine-based software partner. 'This has been a complex task involving replacement of existing ticketing infrastructure while minimising impacts on Transperth operators and passengers,' the spokeswoman said. 'There has been significant testing of the new software and hardware to ensure that passengers receive the highest level of service.' WA is not the only state to experience major issues with rolling out a contactless pay system for public transport. An upgrade to the myWay platform is facing scrutiny in the Australian Capital Territory Assembly for a botched rollout which saw commuters unable to use cards, while the cost of upgrading New South Wales' Opal system has reportedly blown out to $738 million - up from $568 million. The Opal upgrade will also have taken five years to complete by the time it comes online in 2027. Similarly, in Victoria, an upgrade to the Myki card system has blown out to $680.3million.
