Feral Deer

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question about feral deer culling.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Well, well—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Order!

The Hon. C. BONAROS: According to the Landscape SA Limestone Coast's website—and the reasons I am asking these questions may become apparent very soon—ground culling operations (in other words, ground shooting), engaged and managed by the landscape board but undertaken by private contractors, have been approved for the eradication of feral deer, as follows:

20 January to 30 June this year ground culling on private land in the Upper Limestone Coast;

1 February to 30 June this year ground culling operations on selected roadsides within the Kingston SE district council area for approximately 10 days of every month.

The website goes on to list some 34 roads within that precinct, all approved for roadside culling. My questions to the minister are:

1. What, if any, consultation has occurred with neighbouring properties other than signposts in the area with a mobile number (presumably for the contractor)?

2. What, if any, assessment of the area was undertaken to determine the proximity of roadside culling to residential premises, properties and homes?

3. What, if any, consultation occurred with SAPOL regarding roadside culling operations using centrefire, high-powered firearms?

4. How has the risk of flying bullets or the risk to local residents been mitigated, if at all?

5. What, if any, discussions have been undertaken with the contractors regarding the possibility of criminal prosecution if things go wrong?

6. How on earth was roadside culling in proximity to private premises, effectively by snipers, allowed by this government, given the safety concerns that have been raised by locals in the area?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:26): I thank the honourable member for her question. First, given that it is under the auspices of the landscape boards, that is obviously under the scope of the Minister for the Environment in the other place, so in regard to the specific questions I will refer those to her and bring back a response to this place. However, I can speak about the eradication program for feral deer in general, and point out that it works in accordance with the National Code of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures for the Effective and Humane Control of Feral and Wild Deer. It uses a number of different mechanisms.