Kangaroo Island Wildlife Carers

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:50): Supplementary: again to the Minister for Environment, has the government been approached to provide grant funding to assist wildlife carers on Kangaroo Island?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:51): Wildlife carers are, of course, extraordinary people, who tend to always have a bit of work to do looking after wildlife that has been injured or orphaned, but particularly during crises. Fire is a good example. This is another example where there appear to have been koalas that have been left injured and require support. Drought can also cause these challenges, and then there are seasonal issues, particularly in spring with small animals and birds falling from trees and needing to be protected and cared for.

One of my favourite election commitments, and one that didn't cost the Treasurer any money, was to have the Koala State numberplates. Surprisingly to some people, they are quite popular. The idea is that you pay an extra $50, and all of that goes into a fund that is able to be distributed to wildlife carers.

There is a larger challenge here about how wildlife is cared for. There are a number of different organisations, and they have different approaches and different priorities. There is always a need for more money, both philanthropic and from government. At times, of course, such as in the fires, there are literally millions of dollars that will pour in from overseas. People are very moved, understandably, by the plight of Australia's native wildlife.

If there is a particular requirement from which this question has come, I will be sure to talk to the local member for Kangaroo Island, the first Labor person to get a majority vote on Kangaroo Island, and discuss whether there is a particular requirement right now to step in and help.