Pest industry gravy train chugs into Canberra for some fuel

The long running, Australian Greens initiated inquiry into the “Impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia" has finally delivered a report which raises just one important question…

Why was so much taxpayer time, money and resource allowed to be wasted on something so derivative, so inaccurate and so inconsequential?

The dice were loaded on this one from the start, the terms of reference set a tone (punctuated by the inaccurate “feral” catch all for wild deer) which was, transparently driven by some high profile and vocal, but completely ineffective rent-seeking non-profits and quango’s.

After scores of submissions, years of toing and froing and a healthy dose of taxpayer funded travel, the report will no doubt act as grist to the fundraising mill of those behind it. Extensive, well qualified evidence and submissions were effectively ignored in favour of alarmism, sensationalism and vague and spurious claims about “disease”.

The final report contains seventeen recommendations which are bound to be recited in submissions and other rants for the next decade or so. Beyond that, few of them are particularly practical or useful for people who are actually interested in protecting biodiversity and effectively managing wild animals – if adopted they would greatly increase the bureaucratic burden however, which would no doubt please some.

This report is dismissive of the positive role that Australia’s 100,000+ recreational deer hunters play in society and our place on conversations about wild deer management.

If anything, this report again demonstrates what a fortunate thing it is that the Commonwealth Government has so little influence over the administration of public land and wildlife in Australia.

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Summary of recommendations.

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Recommendation 1

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, develop national priorities for data gathering to address gaps in knowledge about the prevalence, range and impacts of feral deer, pigs and goats, identify emerging threats and avoid further range extension of these species."

This seems like a nice idea, but is wholly impractical and it essentially ignores the realities of Australian Federation and the roles of States.

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Recommendation 2

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government commit to providing significant long-term funding to support the implementation of the National Feral Pig Action Plan once it is finalised, as well as the proposed National Feral Deer Action Plan."

And there it is – commit to spending money on unseen and unreviewed plans.

The committee should be commended for at least having the restraint to wait for the second recommendation before truly showing their hand.

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Recommendation 3

"The committee recommends that the National Feral Pig Management Coordinator and National Deer Management Coordinator each provide an annual report to Commonwealth, state and territory parliaments, outlining progress made under the proposed national action plans."

We actually support this one, although we are almost certain that it won’t go anywhere. What it calls for is for people to be accountable for the expenditure of public money.

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Recommendation 4

"The committee recommends that the Commonwealth, states and territories review the role of the National Biosecurity Committee and Environment and Invasives Committee in respect of feral species management, to ensure that these forums are operating effectively to help coordinate and drive species management outcomes across Australia."

This sounds like a bureaucratic nothing…the inquiry calls for more reviews and more inquiries…the proverbial self-licking ice cream.

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Recommendation 5

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government undertake an immediate review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) Threat Abatement Plans for feral pigs and feral goats, in light of their perceived ineffectiveness."

The committee is calling on the Australian Government to review comprehensive documents and plans…not because the committee has actually found anything wrong with them…but because of a “perception” which may or may not be accurate? Sadly, this is not satire.

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Recommendation 6

"The committee recommends that a standalone Key Threatening Process listing for feral deer under the EPBC Act be adopted, accompanied by a Threat Abatement Plan, to elevate the focus on controlling deer impacts."

The previous recommendation having being predicated on a view that the EPBC Act is ineffective, the committee then wants us to believe that a viable action is to add more burden and complexity to that process. Recommendation 5 and Recommendation 6 are fundamentally contradictory of each other. 

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Recommendation 7

"The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment report annually to Parliament on the status of all Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) listed under the EPBC Act, along with information on what monitoring and management activities have been undertaken under Threat Abatement Plans associated with KTPs."

This recommendation was based on an uncritical acceptance of the well-worn tropes about the apparent “protection” granted by game status and licencing (ignoring the fact that the States with game licencing kill considerably more deer than the States without). It actually talks about the hurt feelings that our friends in the anti-hunting movement have about State Governments not granting their every whim by kicking hunters to the curb.

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Recommendation 8

"The committee recommends that all Australian jurisdictions make any necessary changes to their existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to:

ensure that wild deer are treated as an environmental pest;

maximise the ability of landholders to control feral deer on their land;

and

maximise the ability of park managers to control feral deer in World Heritage Areas and National Parks."

See our comments on Recommendation 7. Along with topping up the gravy train, this inquiry was also focused on trying to screw over recreational hunting...a sort of two for one deal for the Greens and their pals. 

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Recommendation 9

"The committee recommends that Commonwealth, state and territory governments should commit to eliminating feral deer populations in World Heritage Areas, areas of national environmental significance, and national biodiversity hotspots."

It doesn’t say how and, more tellingly, it doesn’t talk about a prioritisation of control based on impacts (what you would do if you were actually concerned about biodiversity).

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Recommendation 10

"The committee recommends that all Australian jurisdictions implement frameworks to support the commercial harvesting of feral deer as part of an overall deer management strategy."

This is aimed squarely at trying to shore up the flailing efforts to push for commercial harvest in Tasmania. It’s a blunt recommendation which attempts to undermine the evidence-based approach that the Tasmanian Government appears to be taking on Wild Deer Management…no jobs for the pestie crowd in that!

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Recommendation 11

"The committee recommends that the national feral species coordinators appointed to date (for wild dogs, feral pigs and deer) meet regularly to review successful programs and share best practice in relation to measurement, coordination, control methods, methods of engagement with stakeholders and community messaging."

More talkfests from bureaucrats removed from the actual management…that will fix it!

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Recommendation 12

"The committee recommends that the national coordinators work with Commonwealth, state and territory governments and other stakeholders to develop community education initiatives that address the knowledge gaps in the community about feral species impacts."

More alarmism…no context…no real solutions.

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Recommendation 13

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government:

support the implementation of the forthcoming Model Code of Practice for the humane control of feral deer, with associated Standard Operating Procedures; and

update the current Model Codes of Practice for feral pigs and goats and relevant SOPs in relation to pigs and goats to ensure best practice."

Yet another recommendation to support a document which has not yet been written, let alone reviewed. 

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Recommendation 14

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government commit funding towards a second long-term grant agreement for the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), to provide for ongoing research activities by CISS beyond the expiration of the current agreement in 2022."

Of course it does…then CISS can fund more research into "potential" impacts which will then pose more questions, leading to more research and the circle continues.

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Recommendation 15

"The committee recommends that as priority control programs for feral deer, pigs and goats are identified, Commonwealth, state and territory governments should ensure that adequate long-term funding is appropriated to enable successful implementation of these programs. This will include programs developed under the National Feral Pig Action Plan and proposed National Feral Deer Action Plan."

So, more bureaucracy?

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Recommendation 17

"The committee recommends that the Australian Government direct the Productivity Commission to review the costings and funding models necessary to appropriately manage invasive species in Australia."

Of course it does...

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Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Chair

Of course she was...