House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Kangaroo Island, Feral Goats KANGAROO ISLAND, FERAL GOATS The Hon. S.W. KEY House of Assembly Ashford KANGAROO ISLAND, FERAL GOATS The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. This question deals with the fact that the Natural Resources Committee is going to Kangaroo Island very shortly. Can the minister detail to the house what is happening in regard to pest animal eradication schemes on Kangaroo Island? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Minister for Environment and Conservation Minister for Early Childhood Development Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management KANGAROO ISLAND, FERAL GOATS The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (14:59): We had a significant issue on Kangaroo Island with goats. They are running rampant. We are running a very effective program on Kangaroo Island that involves a couple of our rangers who are very good shots. We also have a particular scheme using a piece of technology: we hang an electronic tracking device around the neck of a goat. That goat then finds its way into the herd among other goats and we are able to track it and shoot all of its mates. This is not a popular goat, but that goat survives and all the other goats are shot. It is called a Judas goat, and it does rather remind you of someone. While it might not be a very popular goat, it is a very effective program. The member for Finniss and I had first-hand experience actually watching this in operation. On a serious note, the goats— Mr Pengilly interjecting: The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes. We are much kinder to koalas on Kangaroo Island. We gently desex those, but there is no mercy for the goats. This program has been scientifically proven and is doing a tremendous job in thinning out those very dangerous feral animals on Kangaroo Island.