Page 1198 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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me and to the community in relation to the recommendations which the commissioner has made.
I think it is relevant, having regard to how difficult and distressing issues around the killing of any animals are, and the deliberate killing, the culling, of kangaroos through a kangaroo management strategy, to say that it is difficult and distressing. It is the sort of decision that no politician and no public figure would wish to be particularly associated with, but it is the responsibility of ministers, and in the past we have not shirked this particular responsibility. We have taken the difficult decisions. I think the Canberra community needs to accept that at the moment, as a result of the ferocity of the drought, the numbers of kangaroos and the depredations on some of our most threatened ecosystems, this government faces the very real possibility, subject to final consideration by Mr Corbell of the commissioner’s report, that we will have no option but to engage in a perhaps quite significant kangaroo management exercise in this autumn and coming winter, and perhaps in years to come, including next year, which will involve the culling of quite significant numbers of kangaroos.
The commonwealth, in respect of its responsibilities in the Majura Valley, has already given indications through the parliamentary secretary, Mr Kelly, that it will engage now, already, on a kangaroo culling exercise within the Majura Valley. These are issues that we need to understand, engage with and accept as unfortunate, regrettable, unpleasant but necessary.
Economy—recession
MR COE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer. Has the Treasury done any modelling on how long the recession will last in the ACT? If so, what did the modelling indicate?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Mr Coe for the question. Treasury are involved in a whole range of discussions nationally in terms of how the Australian economy is placed. Excuse me; I am still struggling with my dental work. Having a nerve pulled in the surgery was more pleasurable than being here, I can assure you—no offence. This is one of those very difficult questions to answer, particularly because of the small—
Mrs Dunne: I would have thought yes or no.
Mr Smyth: Have you done any modelling? It’s not hard.
MS GALLAGHER: Treasury are monitoring this all the time. I would be interested—
Mr Smyth: Is that a yes?
MS GALLAGHER: If that is what you want, yes. The answer is yes.
MR COE: Given that you have just admitted that you are doing monitoring and modelling, will you table this to the chamber?
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