Mouse plague: No federal response or funding to tackle pest crisis as mice numbers grow

The Federal Government has confirmed it has no plans to intervene in the mouse plague, calling it a state responsibility.

The Federal Government has yet to respond the mouse plague currently hitting four states.

The Federal Government has no plans to intervene in the horrific mouse plague that has now spread across four states.

Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment officials confirmed in a Senate estimates hearing this morning no national response was in the works, nor had any direct federal funding been given to combat the plague, because pest animal control is a state issue.

It’s prompted criticism from the federal opposition, with calls for the plague to be top of the agenda at next Wednesday’s meeting of state and federal agriculture ministers.

Mice numbers have been exploding across NSW since March, with reports of growing numbers of rodents in Victoria, South Australia and southern Queensland.

Some grain growers catastrophic sorghum crop losses, while CSIRO estimates the plague will peak by late autumn, in line with winter sowing.

Asked this morning if there would be a national response to the crisis, Department secretary Andrew Metcalfe said: “The answer at this stage is no. It’s seen as something each state government is responsible for.”

Mr Metcalfe also confirmed the Federal Government had not provided any direct funding to combat the plague, reiterating “the primary responsibility for infestations, animal or weed, is at the state government level”.

Mr Metcalfe said the Commonwealth’s role was through CSIRO, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority’s regulation of pesticides, and assisting in reducing freight costs for bringing required bait chemicals from overseas.

Labor’s agriculture spokeswoman Julie Collins accused the Federal Government of not taking responsibility or showing leadership over the crisis, and urged Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to put the mouse plague at the top of the agenda of next week’s ag ministers’ meeting.

“Farmers have been crying out for more support and it’s about time the Morrison Government did something,” she said.

“The Morrison Government should stop passing the buck and start working with the states and territories to fix the shocking mouse plague.”