An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will fund a $300 million biosecurity and control program for the coordination and management of feral animals to protect our critical primary industries sector and conserve our environment.
Agriculture contributes approximately $25.5 billion per year to the NSW economy. The sector is one of NSW’s most productive and important industries, yet farmers face a system weighed down by excessive regulation, rising costs, and decisions made far from regional communities.
Our record plan includes:
- Improved on-ground action and local coordination across all tenures with more boots on the ground;
- A shift to five-year funding for pest animal control programs, in line with the Natural Resources Commission’s recommendation;
- Increased funding for control programs, meaning more pigs are killed;
- More and better traps;
- Trial of a targeted bounty scheme for feral pigs;
- Aerial shooting over more country for longer periods;
- Thermal imaging and drone technology to detect and track pigs;
- Exclusion fencing to protect environmental and agricultural assets;
- Support for baiting shooting and trapping programs;
- Increased legal requirements for public land managers to manage pest animals;
- More targeted research for biological and other novel controls; and,
- Establishing permanent regional rapid response teams to target outbreaks before populations expand.
Wendy Tuckerman, Member for Goulburn said this program will provide the lifeline that many of our local farmers have been calling out for, to protect their crops and livestock.
“Farmer’s right across the Goulburn electorate, and beyond, are telling me the lack of action from the Minns Government to manage feral animals is having disastrous impacts on their livelihoods,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“The time for reviews and roundtables is over. This program will provide the assistance famers have long been calling for.”
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said invasive species and biosecurity threats have become commonplace under Chris Minns and Labor.
“I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact of feral pigs on the farming sector, eating new-born lambs, damaging water sources, fences and pasture, and raiding agricultural crops,” Ms Sloane said.
“Without urgent action on biosecurity, our agricultural industries are at serious risk.”
NSW Nationals Leader Gurmesh Singh said under Labor’s watch, feral pigs and other invasive species are running rampant.
“Through commonsense measures, we are committing to reducing the number and impact of feral pigs across NSW,” Mr Singh said.