Feral Deer

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:40): In accordance with No. 107 of the standing orders—I am only joking. My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear the Hon. Mr Wortley. The Hon. Mr Wortley, start again.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development . Can the minister advise the council about the recent milestone that was achieved under the South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:41): I am delighted to update this place about the exciting milestone that was reached recently in regard to feral deer in South Australia. 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. This is to protect primary industries, the natural environment and also road users from the impacts of feral deer.

Until recently, feral deer numbers in South Australia were increasing across agricultural sections of the state. In 2021, there was an established population of 40,000, with a projected increase to over 200,000 by 2031 without the South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program.

Feral deer cost the South Australian primary production sector an estimated $36 million in agricultural productivity losses in 2022, and modelling predicts this could become $242 million by 2031. I would emphasise again that is $36 million in agricultural productivity lost in 2022. That is a significant hit to our agricultural sectors and no doubt is a good part of the reason why so much of our agricultural sector supports the Feral Deer Eradication Program. To put it in perspective, that is close to a quarter of a billion dollars in lost productivity that producers in the Limestone Coast face losing by 2031 if feral deer are not addressed. That figure would continue to increase, if nothing was done, after 2031.

It is for these reasons that I am pleased that the South Australian Feral Dear Eradication Program has recently achieved a significant milestone, with over 20,000 feral deer now removed from across the state. The removal of 20,000 feral deer is the equivalent of removing more than 30,000 sheep in grazing pressure from the state's pastures, crops and native vegetation.

This substantial reduction of the feral deer population is already producing benefits for farmers, landholders and the environment. In regions where a high number of deer have been removed, particularly in areas of the Fleurieu Peninsula and the Limestone Coast, producers are already increasing their stocking rates, seeing an increase in crop yields and being subjected to less trespass by illegal poachers. Landholders and managers with native vegetation are also reporting benefits to biodiversity, with fewer feral deer present to trash and trample native vegetation.

In particular, I have seen firsthand the benefits of the policy and the advantages the eradication program is delivering for producers in the Limestone Coast. Earlier this year, I joined a suite of farmers at Boolapuckee to inspect the increase of revegetation on their land as a result of the reduction of feral deer in the region. Indeed, just recently a local Limestone Coast producer, Ben Brinkworth from Willoway Farming, said:

Since the eradication program started, we are able to grow more pasture, and in good conditions can probably run an extra 500 head of cattle.

It is for these reasons that it is critical that we continue to seek to eradicate this pest from our agricultural regions in South Australia. The program's sustained and coordinated culling efforts provide our best chance of achieving eradication of feral deer and protecting our state's environment and primary production sector from this destructive pest.

The South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program is a statewide partnership between the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Landscape Boards SA, the Department for Environment and Water, SA Water, ForestrySA and Livestock SA. The program is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments, Landscape Boards SA and the livestock industry. I also would use this opportunity to urge once again those opposite to get on board and show bipartisan support instead of continuing to undermine the program, as we did see previously.

I look forward to being able to once again update members in this place on this matter as we continue to work to eradicate feral deer from our agricultural regions for the benefit of the natural environment, the safety of local residents and the benefit of our agricultural sectors, which the South Australian government is always keen to support.