Mark Furner responds after being called out by Stephen Bennett on ‘disappointing’ pest control response
Minister Mark Furner has responded to a plea from Burnett farmers for help bringing feral pig numbers under control after damages in the tens of thousands of dollars. Read the latest:
Bundaberg
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Agriculture Minister Mark Furner says an initiative to carry out pest management was already available for farmers experiencing feral pig problems.
It comes after farmers and local producers across the Burnett asked the State Government to help bring an explosion in feral pig numbers under control.
Producers have had to pay upward of $80,000 in damages to trees, irrigation and crops.
LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said the time to act was now before numbers got out of control.
“Wild pigs are among Queensland’s most widespread and damaging pest animals,” he said.
“They spread weeds, degrade soil and water, prey on native species, damage crops and livestock, and carry diseases.
“Where there have previously been groups of 10 or 15, farmers are reporting groups of 40 plus.”
Mr Bennett said he alerted the Agriculture Minister in the last parliamentary sitting.
“We’re calling on the Minister for Agriculture to step in now to help our farmers, contractors, and the entire agriculture industry before it’s too late,” he said.
“I asked a Question on Notice to Minister Furner in the last sitting week and his response was more than disappointing.
“That’s why I have joined forces with local producers, Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers, feral pig management operators and industry experts to call on the State Government to step in while we still can.”
Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers CEO Bree Grima said feral pigs were a dire problem for producers, and the numbers were multiplying at a rapid rate.
“Feral pigs and other pests cause huge production losses for our produces across the entire sector, from damaged irrigation systems to productive farmland,” she said.
“Growers are spending tens of thousands of dollars in an attempt to manage this problem, only to see it move onto the next farm.
“We therefore need a coordinated approach and are calling on State Government to assist to ensure our produces, who invest millions of dollars into the local economy, are not losing out.”
Bundaberg Feral Pest Control owner Darren Pratt has also called on the government for financial aid after he had to stop providing his services for free.
He said his business formed due to the demand for eradication services.
“Over the past nine months we have been helping local farmers by building feral pig traps, placing them on their farms, supplying the grain as bait, and servicing the traps for them,” he said.
“We were doing this as a free service to help them with this fast-growing destructive problem.
“Unfortunately, after spending about $30,000 of our own money and with no government funding available we have to stop supplying this free service.
“Due to the raising costs, we will now have to charge a fee for this service.
“We would love to see government funding become available to help farmers curb this massive problem that is just getting bigger.”
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the influx of feral pigs has come with a seasonal change.
“Seasonal conditions have led to increases in feral pig numbers, which is why our $1m commitment to the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative in the State Budget is so important,” he said.
Mr Furner encouraged farmers and producers to use an initiative already in place to manage pests across the state.
“Under the Biosecurity Act landholders have a general biosecurity obligation to manage pests on their land,” he said.
“The Queensland Feral Pest Initiative helps local governments to carry out pest management actions in support of local communities.:
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