SOUTHERN HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the topic of southern hairy-nosed wombats.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: In response to previous questions I have asked of the previous minister with regard to the ongoing status of the South Australian faunal emblem, the southern hairy-nosed wombat, the then-minister advised that:

...the Department of Environment and Natural Resources encourages a 'living with wildlife' approach and the use of non-lethal management strategies to issues involving human-wildlife conflict.

And that DENR (as it was then known)

...has and will continue to support and promote non-lethal approaches to wildlife management.

Unfortunately, figures released by the department under FOI have revealed that numbers of southern hairy-nosed wombats culled have increased significantly over the last five years. Disappointingly, previous questions that I have asked in this place about the fate of the wombats and the department's willingness to issue destruction permits seemingly without any critical scrutiny remain unanswered despite correspondence from the previous minister, Paul Caica, promising that such answers would be tabled five months ago.

Questions relating to new discoveries of threats to the population have remain unanswered now for some 18 months. These questions ask about the massive numbers of wombats dying in the state's Murraylands; estimates of up to 70 per cent mortality. I have asked whether destruction permits should continue to be issued without a full and proper assessment of the impact of the then-unknown disease on the population's health. I have asked what resources the government has directed towards researching the disease and what funding has been given to rescuing and rehabilitating wombats suffering from the disease.

I have also asked what actions were being taken, if any, towards halting illegal culling and supporting wombat rescue and rehabilitation on Portee Station—private land suitable for a sanctuary that is still today, I believe, available for sale. Whilst I am still very keen to get the answers to these earlier questions, I would like to ask the current minister the following questions:

1. Is the minister aware of research that highlights the fact that interfering with an established wombat community by culling wombats actually substantially increases wombat numbers overall by removing the inhibiting effects that the alpha females have on other wombats' breeding capacity?

2. If the minister is not aware of such research, will he commit his department to investigate this as a matter of urgency to ensure that culling permits issued to landholders are not inadvertently increasing wombat damage in farmlands as expanding numbers of newborn wombats lead to a corresponding expansion in wombat burrowing as new burrows are constructed by each wombat?

3. Will you, as minister, honour the previous minister's written commitment to me to answer the outstanding questions urgently? That minister stated I would receive answers in this place in February. I will accept May.

The PRESIDENT: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.

The Hon. T.A. Franks: 2013!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and her very hurried addition to that question in that remark. I can make some preliminary statements and then I can come back to the more pertinent questions that she asked towards the end of her explanation.

The southern hairy-nosed wombat is a species that is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, I am advised, but they are not listed as vulnerable, rare or endangered. Populations of southern hairy-nosed wombats are found in the Murraylands, Yorke Peninsula and in the western regions of this state. I am advised that over the last couple of years, several southern hairy-nosed wombats have been observed near Blanchetown, some with hair loss, emaciated body condition and skin infections.

I am also advised in 2011, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources contributed to a study undertaken by the University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences to investigate what was causing this condition in wombats.

As to her questions about research on culling, I can advise that no, I have not seen any such recent research but, of course, I would be fascinated to read it. Not being aware of that research, I will ask my department to provide me with a report. Having not seen the previous minister's response to the honourable member which she alluded to in her explanation, I will also ask the department to provide me with that, and I will consider that and a response as soon as possible.