Poison-Laced Carrots

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding distribution of poison-laced carrots.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: It was reported by ABC News on 28 August 2024 that residents in the Adelaide Hills region were concerned that carrots laced with poison to control rabbits in the Adelaide Hills are likely killing native animals as well. Sturt Upper Reaches Landcare Group president, Ben Koch, said landowners were given free access to poison carrots by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board at certain times of the year. Mr Koch said that the group are concerned that residents, and I quote from Mr Koch:

…are encouraged to distribute poison in the environment, and are given poor information about the risk that this poses to other species.

Of particular concern to our group is the poison's use in the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges and other areas known to contain the endangered southern brown bandicoot.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the minister aware that the use of poison-laced carrots is posing a risk to native and endangered species, such as the southern brown bandicoot?

2. Is the minister aware that residents are receiving insufficient information about the risk that these poison-laced carrots pose to native and endangered species?

3. Does the minister or her department have any oversight of this program, and safety of the program?

4. What actions will the minister undertake to ensure that better information about the risks are presented to residents, and to ensure that sufficient protections are in place to reduce the risk to native species?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has recently received reports from several wildlife rescue organisations of increased numbers of sick and dying kangaroos in regional areas around the state during July and August. The wildlife rescue organisations have not been able to confirm the cause of sickness or mortality observed in the kangaroos. They have raised the possibility, at least in some cases, that kangaroos may be becoming sick and dying as a result of poisoning from pindone. Pindone is the active ingredient in registered rabbit oat and carrot baits.

Rabbit baits containing pindone can be purchased by any landowner to conduct rabbit control on their property or may be supplied to landowners by local landscape boards for coordinated rabbit control programs. PIRSA is working closely with the wildlife rescue organisations and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) staff to further investigate the cause or causes of the kangaroo sickness and mortality.

PIRSA is funding and coordinating the forensic testing of symptomatic kangaroos by way of necropsy and histopathology analysis, combined with further residue testing. It is hoped this forensic analysis, combined with examination of the available information collected by the wildlife rescuers, will enable a cause or causes to be identified.

I am advised that while some of the symptoms being observed are consistent with possible pindone poisoning, there remains the possibility of other causes such as disease, parasites and toxicity from eating noxious weeds. PIRSA will seek to rule out the possibility of any exotic diseases as part of the forensic testing process.

Rabbit bait users are reminded of the importance of following label directions to prevent the risks of off-target poisoning to native wildlife. Pindone baits are registered for use in Australia for rabbit control but have a range of mandatory instructions on where and how the baits can be used to minimise off-target risks. Compliance with mandatory instructions on labels is essential and enforceable under South Australian chemical control of use legislation, with maximum penalties of $35,000.

PIRSA will continue to work closely with wildlife carers and DEW staff to determine any causes. Should pindone use be found to be a cause, PIRSA-authorised officers will investigate chemical users and take the appropriate regulatory action for any confirmed noncompliance with label directions.