Page 1561 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 31 March 2009
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Emergency Services) (11.46), in reply: I would like to thank members for their contribution to the debate this morning in relation to this report. As members have noted, this report is an important one for the management of one of the ACT’s most endangered ecosystems, lowland native grasslands.
It is worth reflecting that only one per cent of the pre-European extent of this ecosystem remains present. Of that one per cent, five per cent is present here in the ACT; so we have special responsibilities and special obligations to manage the ecosystem and to protect it to the greatest extent possible. As members have noted, Dr Cooper’s report outlines the very broad range of issues and challenges confronting these ecosystems and the management of them. In particular, members have noted the issues around culling of kangaroos. I welcome the comments of members that would appear to indicate that culling on a scientific basis, and in as humane a manner as possible, is a response that needs to remain on the table to manage the future viabilities of these ecosystems.
As members have also noted, however, it is not solely an issue around culling. There are a broad range of other matters that need to be brought into consideration in the management of these areas. Those include factors such as mowing regimes. They include factors such as adequate fencing and management practices, particularly by non-public land managers and also non-ACT land managers such as the Department of Defence. Importantly, there is also the issue of the viability of smaller sections of grasslands which are now surrounded in the urban environment.
I think here Dr Cooper makes some of her most valuable recommendations in that she indicates there needs to be a program potentially for offsets. If small isolated pockets of ecosystems are not really going to be sustainable in the long term—if they have no connectivity with the broader ecosystems that would support, for example, the passage of fauna and birds between one area and another—there is potentially a need to consider offsets that effectively concede that some ecosystems, small isolated patches, are not viable into the long term. Steps can then be taken in compensation to potentially strengthen the viability of larger extant pieces of lowland native grassland. These recommendations in particular warrant serious consideration. Indeed, all of Dr Cooper’s recommendations will be dealt with with close attention by the government.
As I indicated when I accepted Dr Cooper’s report, the government will respond as soon as possible. I note Mrs Dunne’s comments in relation to the timing around issues of culling. The government is very cognisant of those matters and will endeavour to make sure decisions are made in a timely fashion having regard to the seasonal issues associated with culling. Indeed, the Chief Minister has also indicated a framework, in draft form, through the kangaroo management plan that will allow us to have regard to those matters in a timely fashion.
Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, it is worth commenting on the significant body of work undertaken by the commissioner. She and her office have brought together a very large effort to deliver this report. We must thank her and her staff for that. But we should also thank her for the work she has done to build a broad scientific consensus on the most appropriate way of managing these grasslands. That is really
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