Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 9:26:10 to 9:33:28
Senator Bilyk raises concerns regarding florfenicol use in Tasmanian fish farms and the management of feral deer within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Topics: Fisheries, Biosecurity, Land management
Speakers: Senator Vanessa Bleyer, Miss Victoria Anderson, Justine Saunders, Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Senator Glenn Sterle
>> Appreciate Senator Pok. Thank you Senator Bay.
>> Thank you. Do I have a quick question about floor phenol? I'm not sure if Dr. Cook needs to come to the table for
that. >> The nature of the question, Senator.
>> Well, it's just about um DAP's involvement in any compensation, but I'll just ask the question then. So um in Tasmania um rock lobster, abalone, sea urchin and periwinkle fisheries were closed due to the impact of the use of florenol at fish farms in Tasmania. Now, these wild fishes are losing large quantities of money by reason of having to shut down following the approval of this synthetic broadspectctrum veterary antibiotic. Who's going to compensate them? Is the department involved in any compensation schemes or what does the government commonwealth think about who should bear
don't think we'd have an opinion about the latter, but suffice to say, I think um, the APVMA is appearing later today who can provide an update on the process. In the course of considering that application, I understand the Tasmanian government has made assurances about how it will manage fisheries in the context of any further forenol usage. Um, we are not involved in compensation um, discussions. I'm aware that the um the salmon industry may have proposed that they provide compensation, but that would be a matter um I think best raised initially with the APVMA and if there's anything we can't answer in that session, I'll take it on notice.
>> Uh thank you, Secretary. And I just have a few questions around feral deer. Does >> And just no, sorry. >> Um so just specifically in relation to Tasmania. So, how is the department monitoring deer numbers and impacts in the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area, which I'll now refer to as Tua?
>> Um, Senator, we don't directly monitor. So, the role we play is an important role in terms of coordination. Um, bringing stakeholders together, supporting the work of the coordinator who would be the person that would have the sort of data you're referring to, working with and and supporting research activities. That's the role the Commonworth plays as it relates to this
And so turning to the government, Senator, I I wonder if you can assist by telling me how will the Australian government ensure that the natural values of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area will be protected in light of the significant adverse impact that feral deers bring to it.
>> Thank you, Senator. What I can tell you is that we fund the national feral deer management coordinator and we support the implementation of the national feral deer action plan and that that coordinator works with all governments industry or with the government's industry and community groups to improve that collaboration um and data collection and research.
So, we have a legal duty, as I expect you are aware, um, to advise the World Heritage Commission of any significant impact or likely significant impact on World Heritage values. Has the federal government made any of those mandatory reports to the federal government of the significant impact that feral deer have caused to our world heritage values?
take that on notice. That wouldn't be that's wouldn't it's not our department um um senator that would manage that manages that issue.
>> Okay. Thanks. They're my questions.
>> Thank you Senator B. So thank you very much the officials and to my colleagues. It being 6:15 we shall now suspend till 7:15 but we still are in outcome two. >> Yes I believe we are. I thought I was