Feral Deer

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister update the council about her recent visits with landowners in the South-East to discuss the feral deer eradication program?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his question. Feral deer are a declared pest under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, and land managers are required to destroy feral deer on their land to protect primary industries, the natural environment and road users from the impact of feral deer.

As members could no doubt work out, when the act was created this was an initiative of the now the Leader of the Opposition and then environment minister David Speirs, which is why it is so surprising that the Leader of the Opposition in this place has continued to undermine the program.

This is a program that the government has strongly supported at the request of farmers in our regions, and these farmers—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —have already seen enormous benefits as a result of the aerial culling. We know that feral deer cost the South Australian primary production sector an estimated $36 million in agricultural productivity losses in 2022 alone, and modelling predicts this could become as high as a quarter of a billion dollars by 2031 if the situation is not addressed. Since the eradication program started in the Limestone Coast over 6,500 feral deer have been eradicated, which is the equivalent of 10,000 sheep-worth of grazing pressure removed.

Last week, ahead of the next round of aerial culling activity, I had the opportunity to travel to Keilira in the South-East and meet with many landowners, the local landscape board and industry who are all highly supportive of the eradication program, and who wanted to show me firsthand the damage that has been done by feral deer to their properties. Landowners also shared with me their thoughts on the merit of the aerial culling program, and I had the opportunity to reassure them that the government remains committed to the continuation of this program.

It is clear, after speaking with many of them, that the program carries enormous support from farmers in the region. I want to specifically thank Peter Rasheed, whose property we met on, otherwise known as Boolapuckee. He was very generous with his time as he drove me around his property so that I could inspect some of the damage caused by feral deer. It is not only lost agricultural productivity that feral deer are responsible for but also significant damage to the natural environment, and that was certainly apparent during my visit.

Landowners shared with me their views that the aerial culling was already proving to be effective, as they had noticed a significant decrease of sightings of feral deer and an increase in the growth of lucerne. They were able to plant lucerne in areas that previously had not been able to maintain it because of the significant damage from feral deer.

Promisingly, in contrast to the Eastern States, South Australia's feral deer numbers are still considered low enough to completely eradicate the pest. That was certainly the message that landowners conveyed to me. It was somewhat disappointing, however, that the shadow minister once again, when interviewed on the matter recently, further undermined the program.

I would strongly encourage the shadow minister to visit the regions, get out and speak with affected landowners who are reaping the benefits of the eradication program and understand from them why they want this program to continue, instead of using every opportunity to undermine what is an essential program for them.

I want to thank all of the landowners, industry representatives and the landscape board for making time last week to discuss this incredibly important issue with me. I look forward to the continuation of the program and being able to update the chamber further about the work being undertaken to eradicate feral deer.