Latest news with #HelenDalton
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bold new national park plan to hunt invasive species: 'We need all hands on deck'
An Aussie politician is calling for shooters to be allowed into NSW national parks to kill feral animals like pigs and foxes. The proposal would be an extension of a bounty system floated by NSW Premier Chris Minns this week, which sparked a polarised response. Regional NSW MP Helen Dalton said farmers were struggling to combat invasive species that breed on public land and then wander into their properties, destroying land and attacking livestock. She's shared shocking footage showing a trap that filled with feral pigs after it was placed on a Riverina property near a national park. 'We're losing the battle… we need all hands on deck,' she told Yahoo News, before adding, 'I think it's time they allowed recreational shooters in national parks.' To avoid putting the lives of walkers and sightseers at risk, Dalton, who was formerly with the Shooters and Fishers Party, said the parks could be temporarily closed over a weekend to give hunters access. She doesn't imagine shooters would make a lot from bounties, but the extra cash would help cover the cost of their bullets and fuel. Under her plan, shooting invasive species would complement other control measures like trapping and poisoning. Recreational shooting in national parks was trialled by the Coalition in 2014, but it sparked a fierce backlash from conservationists, and no longer occurs. 'We used to shoot back in the day, we kept them under control. But the government has tightened the laws,' she said. In a statement, a spokesperson for the NSW government said it is 'open to considering all options' including bounties, but it confirmed there are no plans to lift restrictions on recreational shooting in national parks. 'We need to do more and we need all hands on deck for this problem. No one is saying that bounties are the sole solution here. They aren't a silver bullet. But what they are is another tool in the toolbox,' the spokesperson said. Related: 📸 Incredible before and after photos show major triumph in $100m invasive outback battle The Invasive Species Council, an independent group that provides specialist advice on the removal of feral animals, has dismissed the premier's bounty plan saying there's simply no evidence that they work. Its CEO Jack Gough said if the government was serious about combatting the problem it would follow the advice of its own Natural Resources Commission that delivered a report to the premier a fortnight ago. The report found invasive species already cost the state's economy $1.9 billion annually, but this could balloon to $29.7 billion in just five years if the problem isn't addressed. The report suggested an evidence-based approach to fighting the problem, a move away from 'short-term' strategies, and more coordination between landholders and government. 'The idea that bounties will have any impact on feral animals is Alice in Wonderland stuff,' he told Yahoo. 'There's not a single example that shows bounties actually reduce populations on a landscape scale.' Victoria has run a bounty system since 2011, and in that time Agriculture Victoria has collected over 1.1 million fox scalps. When the NSW Nationals proposed introducing a similar system in July last year, Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty dismissed the idea saying they have "consistently failed" since the 1800s. It remains unclear why the Minns Government has had a sudden change of heart. Plan to reintroduce wild animals into Australia's major cities Hunt for rare Aussie fish not seen since 1990s Creatures photographed coming to surface for 'super cool' battle Gough argued the new bounty plan is less about good policy and more about stitching up support from the Shooters and Fishers Party in the Upper House. 'They are deciding to go directly against expert advice… this is on the agenda purely because the Labor Party wants to do a dirty deal,' he said. The Premier's office did not respond to a question about this claim from Yahoo News. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Aussie MP says it's 'time to release the virus' as invasive species takes over
An Aussie MP believes it's "time to release the virus" that could kill up to 80 per cent of the total population of one fish species found in waterways throughout the country. Carp is an invasive species found in every state and territory except the Northern Territory, with populations skyrocketing thanks to flooding events and their lack of natural predators in Australian waterways. The problem has gotten so out of hand that experts now fear a lack of intervention could threaten native fish and public health — and even the Aussie way of life in some badly affected regions. MP Helen Dalton, an independent representing the regional NSW district of Murray, is in favour of authorities releasing the carp virus (Cyprinid herpesvirus 3) which is proven to cause a fatal disease in the fish. Dalton believes the biological control method is the only way to reduce carp "dominance" in our waterways. "Carp are having a huge impact on their environment and ecosystems," Dalton told Yahoo News. "Ninety per cent of biomass in an infected river is carp... the water is very murky and you can't see the bottom of it." As waterways are inundated with more and more carp, river beds are being "dug up" by the fish as they search for food. This in turn completely alters the ecosystems that inhabit the river system. "They're bottom feeders and they eat aquatic weeds," Dalton explained. "These weeds usually filter the water and do a good job of that, but if they're taken out, the water isn't filtered and we're seeing the proliferation of blue-green algae blooms." Blue-green algae blooms already naturally exist in Aussie waterways but an increase in the bacteria subsequently results in a heightened production of its toxins. These toxins are harmful to humans and animals and can cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal issues. In severe cases, liver or nerve damage can occur. "I'm a farmer and if I allow my stock to drink from a waterway that's got a blue-green algae bloom in it, it'll kill them," Dalton said, adding that Aussies would be warned to stop swimming and fishing in waterways contaminated by the algae blooms. "We need the virus to combat the rise of carp that is setting off this damage." The primary concern against releasing the carp virus into waterways is the impact it will have on other wildlife, with the control plan not yet approved by authorities. The National Carp Control Plan (NCCP), led by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, has undergone research and analysis into the virus but some within the industry are still very hesitant to deploy it. Gerry Morsman, a fishing tackle rep across New South Wales and Victoria, said he's recently noticed "heaps" of the fish in rivers and, despite understanding they're a problem to deal with, he's not sure the virus is the solution. "I am not for it at all," Gerry told Yahoo News earlier this month. "They say it'll only kill the carp but it's a big risk." However Dalton claims the federal government is preparing for the virus to be a feasible control method, and told Yahoo News that "many scientists say it'll only impact carp". "It won't spread into other species. I think there's been enough research [to prove that]," she said. The Invasive Species Council (ISC) also spoke to Yahoo News this week about the virus being used to reduce carp species, expressing support for its use in population control. Dr Carol Booth, ISC's Policy Director, explained the virus is naturally occurring and it is not known to harm other fish species. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Confronting photo of roadside fence highlights 'cunning' invasive killer
A confronting scene on the side of a rural Aussie road has highlighted the devastating impact an invasive and "cunning" predator is having on the Aussie landscape. The "trophy fence" seen from a road connecting the southern NSW rural towns of Finley and Deniliquin, is adorned with the carcasses of dozens of foxes, with one Aussie politician telling Yahoo News it sends a strong message to authorities about the shocking problem across the country. Helen Dalton, independent MP for Murray, described the scene as "gobsmacking" and it prompted her calls for a bounty on foxes in NSW. She believes the government should pay as much as $20 per fox to control their populations. "There is nothing good about a fox," she told Yahoo News, adding that the confronting image "highlights how many there are in the area". "It sends a message to the government to get up and do something about it," she said. "If they are truly interested in the environment, biosecurity and farmers, they should have a bounty on them." Dalton, who lives on a property near Griffith, in the state's southwest, says spotting a fox is a daily occurrence in her area. She says it's having a significant impact on regional communities because foxes prey on young livestock, costing farmers "a fortune". Covering around 80 per cent of Australia's continental landmass, it's estimated there are more than 1.7 million feral foxes in the country after first being brought over by European settlers. Foxes are also estimated to kill some 300 million native mammals, birds and reptiles each year. Dalton believes a bounty will incentivise Aussies with a gun licence to shoot the invasive pest, arguing it will "save" the government money. The Victorian Fox Bounty, which resumed on March 3, offers a $14 reward for each fox scalp brought in, and Helen believes it's an approach NSW could take, although she believes NSW shooters should receive $20 per fox. "A bounty will pay for a bit of fuel and ammunition and justifies why they should be out there," she said. "It will save the government and save farmers a fortune too. A bounty would encourage people to get going on things the government should be doing." 🦊 Aussies combatting invasive threat taking over caravan parks, farms and suburbs 🦌 Warning as Aussie homeowners face 'avalanche' of destructive invasive species 🐜 Mum sounds alarm over deadly garden threat hiding in yards Not everyone in Australia agrees with bounties on pest populations. One animal advocate described it as "barbaric and archaic" with another leading expert in invasive pest control believing it would be a 'waste of money.' Andrew Cox, the CEO of the Invasive Species Council, previously told Yahoo 'It's not a wise use of government funds. And there are more targeted ways to control foxes that would have a bigger impact. 'Foxes definitely cause impacts on agriculture and the environment. But we need to use professional fox controllers and bait programs. And stop putting money into programs that could be easily abused, aren't strategic, and could actually encourage the wrong behaviour.' Dalton said she doesn't look at it as "dreadful and archaic", she said it's an opportunity to "thank" those who participate in getting rid of pests. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
