Page 739 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 19 March 2019
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Namadgi’s bogs and fens are home to the critically endangered northern corroboree frog. The bogs are also habitat for the native broad-toothed rat, the alpine tree frog, Reik’s crayfish and alpine spiny crayfish. We are also taking action because of the sphagnum bogs and the subalpine streams in and around our national park. Canberra has some of Australia’s best and most reliable drinking water. I can advise the Assembly that I have added high country bogs and associated fens to the ACT threatened ecological communities list. I have taken this action in part because of the threat posed by feral horses across the border.
MS ORR: Minister, why is it important to protect the territory and the broader environment against feral horses?
MR GENTLEMAN: Feral horses pose a real threat to Namadgi National Park. Namadgi is a very important part of the city’s water supply and security, but it is all under threat. To protect Namadgi, we need to ensure the proper management of the feral horses in the neighbouring Kosciusko National Park. Sadly, in New South Wales the Liberal government has taken a reckless course of action that will increase the number of feral horses. It is not a matter for another jurisdiction; feral horses pose a real threat to the territory’s beautiful environment. (Time expired.)
MS CODY: How does this government’s actions on feral horses compare to other governments’ actions?
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, enough!
MR GENTLEMAN: The advice from scientists and rangers is clear. Feral horses are increasing across the border in New South Wales, and we must take action. This government is acting. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the New South Wales government. They have been misguided by rose-tinted nostalgia, endorsed by the shadow minister against the environment opposite.
Evidence in recent weeks has emerged that New South Wales did not trap and remove any feral horses last winter from Kosciusko National Park—no doubt actions that the shadow minister against the environment supports. The reckless and flawed New South Wales legislation must be removed and measures must be taken to effectively manage feral horses in New South Wales.
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, rulings have been made in the past—and Mr Gentleman is a serial offender. He has been asked to withdraw that comment in the past. This is not the first time he has offended.
MADAM SPEAKER: I ask you to withdraw and just refer to people by their proper name or their title.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I withdraw. However, it is becoming clear that the Liberal Party is missing in action in New South Wales, in the commonwealth and here in the ACT. The Labor Party across the three jurisdictions—
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