June 27, 2013
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh is today hosting Queensland’s first Feral Animal Summit in a bid to “build a stronger, unified attack on pest animals”.
The summit, which is being held at Highfields, will also include the launch of the newly created Invasive Plants and Animals Committee.
Mr McVeigh said feral animals were a blight on the landscape – preying on native animals, competing for food, shelter and habitat, degrading habitats, ecosystems, soil and water quality and causing further problems through hybridisation such as wild dogs breeding dingoes.
“They have a huge impact on our farms causing production losses of around $215 million every year,” Mr McVeigh said.
Mr McVeigh said the summit would discuss key issues including preventing potential new pests and how to get best-practice information out to land managers.
He said significant wet seasons, particularly around coastal and southern Queensland, had produced ideal conditions for many feral mammals with big increases in feral pigs, wild dogs, and feral deer.
Twice in recent years (2009 and 2011) areas of the State had also suffered mice plagues.
“Effective control of feral animals requires an integrated and collaborative approach between landholders, local and State Government, together with support and commitment from interest groups and the general public,” Mr McVeigh said.
The Invasive Plants and Animals Committee will meet at least twice yearly.
It consist of representatives from industry bodies and government, including Ivan Naggs (Chair), AgForce; Rachel Mackenzie, Queensland Farmers Federation; Chris Love, The Weed Society of Queensland; Andrew Drysdale, Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Groups Collective; and representatives from the Local Government Association of Queensland, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
“The committee will provide independent and strategic advice on a broad range of invasive plant and animal issues to the Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council,” Mr McVeigh said.
“This is the start of a new approach requiring ongoing involvement by the community, industry and government.
“Recommendations that come out of the Feral Animal Summit will help guide future discussions by this new committee.”
