More than 16,000 crop protection permits were issued over five years with seemingly none refused

More than 16,000 permits to cull native wildlife were issued in the past five years. Now the number of applications rejected has been revealed.

OUT of more than 16,000 applications for a crop protection permit during the past five years, not a single one was rejected, say the Greens.

Right to Information documents requested by the party have revealed more than 16,000 crop protection permits had been issued for the culling of native animals in Tasmania, including galahs, green rosellas, Forester kangaroos, wombats and platypuses since the beginning of 2014.

MILLIONS OF NATIVE ANIMALS CULLED

SHOCK NUMBER OF WILDLIFE CULL PERMITS REVEALED

The Greens also asked for details on how many applications were rejected, but this was not directly answered.

“Persons considering applying for a CPP generally verbally engage with a wildlife management officer prior to submission of a formal application,” the response said.

“During this engagement, the specifics of the situation and the species involved are discussed, along with the suitability of a CPP in the circumstances. Property visits may be undertaken as part of this pre-application phase.”

Forester kangaroos were among the species targeted under crop protection permits. Picture: SUPPLIED

The RTI documents said an application for a crop protection permit was submitted only after an officer had advised it was the most effective method to manage the problem.

“Where the officer concludes there are more appropriate mitigation measures available for managing the problem, a formal application is generally not progressed by the client,” the response said.

“Many inquiries for a permit do not proceed beyond the initial inquiry phase. Records are not

kept of the number of inquiries received that do not proceed to an application.”

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff claimed it was “impossible to believe DPIPWE is properly doing its job” if no applications were rejected.

Greens environment spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the process appear to be “a simple tick and flick approval”.

“DPIPWE are required to verify that damage is actually occurring to a crop before granting a permit to kill wildlife,” she said.

“It is impossible to believe DPIPWE is properly doing its job, with not a single application for a crop protection permit rejected out of 16,133 permits granted during the last five years.

“We face the real risk of localised and even statewide extinctions of animals if we keep issuing permits to kill without rigorous checks and science.”

In September, it was revealed seven platypuses died in nets used in Tasmania’s carp eradication program under crop protection permits issued by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The Greens and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary founder Greg Irons started a petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into wildlife protection and management in Tasmania, which has since been signed by more than 1000 people.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett previously said the results of long-term wildlife population monitoring indicated that quotas for crop protection permits were not being abused.