CANE TOAD —
CLASSIFICATION
232. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the announcement by the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions—I love that—parks
and wildlife service on the ABC Broome on 6 February 2018 that cane toads will
no longer be classified as a pest to the north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
(1) Given that
cane toads are no longer considered a pest, what protocols exist if people wish
to collect and bust toads in their regional environments?
(2) Will people
be required to get a licence to bust toads in the Kimberley and Pilbara as they
will now be considered regular fauna and not pests?
(3) Will the secure cane toad drop-off points located
throughout the Kimberley region remain and be serviced?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
(5) As the cane
toad front advances, will further drop-off points be established?
(6) If no to (5),
why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Cane toads are still considered a pest. The
government continues to manage cane toads in accordance with Western Australia's
cane toad strategy. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions recently updated the cane toad information pamphlet that provides a
safety checklist and advice on euthanasing cane toads as well as an
identification guide. The pamphlet, which I would like to table at the end of
answering this question, is also available from the DBCA website at www.dbca.wa.gov.au.
(2) No; cane
toads are not considered native fauna in Western Australia. As such, a licence
is not required.
(3) There is a
cane toad drop-off box at DBCA Kimberley region's depot. DBCA also
supports a number of businesses that have agreed to service drop-off boxes
located on their premises. DBCA supports Aboriginal communities, ranger groups
and schools with information on collecting cane toads and cane toad management
through the cane toad management handbook published in 2016.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The focus of
the cane toad strategy is on mitigating the impact of cane toads on native
fauna and preventing the establishment of satellite populations ahead of the
front line through effective community education and messaging, such as ''check
your load for a cane toad'', and quarantine measures. DBCA will provide
cane toad drop-off boxes to businesses that are able to service them and meet
animal welfare requirements.
(6) Not
applicable.
[See paper 1223.]