Calling for continued national coordination, sustained research funding, and new tools to tackle feral deer head on, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) welcomes the recommendations from a new Senate inquiry report.
Released yesterday, the Senate inquiry report on the impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia has made 17 recommendations, of which six of these were specifically focused on continuing the work already developed through our Centre, including sustaining the newly formed role of the National Deer Management Coordinator.
Our Centre, through its members and partners, are developing innovative solutions to ensure we can give farmers and land managers the tools to easily detect, map and manage these pest animal problems.
In 2017, CISS instigated Australia’s largest research collaboration involving five state and territory governments, three local and regional councils, three universities and three private environmental groups.
Since then, CISS has also initiated the development of a National Feral Deer Action Plan and National Coordinator leadership position, which is being funded through the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.
Andreas Glanznig, CISS CEO welcomed the report saying our Centre’s collaborative national coordination model works and has a strong track record.
“Our Centre has a fantastic track record to deliver products on farm, and quickly, through the leadership of our rabbit biocontrol program to manage rabbits nationally, and the remarkable work of Greg Mifsud over the past decade leading the National Wild Dog Action Plan which is now in its 8th year of sustained government and industry funding.
“We have known feral deer an emerging national issue for many years now, and this was recently confirmed in the latest ABARES pest animal and weeds survey finding that feral deer were the most commonly reported pest animal that recently arrived on properties, more so than kangaroos, feral pigs and wild dogs.
“We absolutely welcome the Senate’s recommendation to ensure there is sustained funding to ensure we have the same number of integrated tools to manage feral deer as we do for rabbits and wild dogs.
“Our Centre is proud to be involved the development of a National Feral Deer Action Plan, through our member the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions via the newly created position of National Deer Management Coordinator, aptly led by Dr Annelise Wiebkin.
“None of our achievements to date could have happened without the funding support of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, and we also welcome recommendation 14 to ensure our Centre has ongoing Australian Government funding to achieve our goals into the future,” Mr Glanznig said.
The full Senate inquiry report can found on the Australian Parliament website.