Kangaroo Island, Feral Pigs

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:04): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the council about the surveillance work on Kangaroo Island to ensure feral pigs are eradicated?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his question. Members in this place would be aware that I have previously updated the council about the excellent work being done by the staff of the Department of Primary Industries and others to eradicate feral pigs from Kangaroo Island. The Feral Pig Eradication Project started in the wake of the devasting 2019-20 Kangaroo Island bushfires that decimated feral pigs on the island and provided a real opportunity for a concerted effort that presented the opportunity to achieve complete eradication from the island.

Before the fires, it was estimated there were between 5,000 and 10,000 feral pigs which had been impacting farmers and the environment. The feral pigs were notorious for damaging pastures, grain and potato crops, fence lines and dams, as well as threatening native animals and vegetation. I am advised that there are now no known pigs remaining on the island; however, it is vital that surveillance work is undertaken to confirm this. The eradication program so far has used a range of tools to cull the feral pigs, including thermal-assisted aerial culling, detector dogs, ground shooting, ground baiting, and a network of over 500 monitoring cameras assisted by artificial intelligence.

Unlike members opposite, we are consistently supportive of the eradication of feral animals in this state. That is why I recently had the opportunity to announce what is hoped to be the final phase of the eradication program, which is a two-year surveillance program to ensure there are no feral pigs in any isolated areas on the island. I announced additional funding of $367,000 from PIRSA, along with an additional $230,000 from the local landscape board, to help underpin an extensive monitoring program which includes field staff running a network of 500 cameras and undertaking DNA analyses of waterways on the island to ensure there is no detection of feral pigs.

This additional funding is a great reflection of the partnership approach that has typified the eradication program, with agencies representing both natural landscapes and primary production working together to ensure eradication is achieved. This increase in resourcing will also provide additional capacity for an emergency response if any feral pigs are detected, which would see the swift return of a thermal-assisted helicopter at any point over the next two years.

I have spoken previously about the enormous economic benefits that the eradication of feral pigs provide primary producers. Removing all feral pigs from the island will save an estimated $1 million a year in damage and other costs, as well as reducing impacts to Kangaroo Island's precious biodiversity. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jamie Heinrich from AgKI for his continued advocacy for the continuation of this program. I have appreciated both his knowledge and perspective on this matter on the occasions when I have met with him.