KATTER’S Australian Party Senator Fraser Anning has weighed into the feral animal debate, saying government is not doing enough to target the pests posing a threat to Queensland agricultural areas.
“Feral animals and pigs in particular have been a consistent issue for our farmers, destroying crops, spreading disease and damaging infrastructure,” Mr Anning said.
“Neither the current Federal Liberal or state Labor governments have looked at this issue. Both rely on old reports, old action plans and seemingly lack the willpower to fix this issue.
“We have seen the current approach is not working, this is why KAP moved a motion calling on the government to commission a new comprehensive report on the cost of feral animals.
“Feral pigs have been a consistent problem in this country for at least one hundred years, the ongoing
apathy will only continue to hurt producers like those in Tully and the surrounding regions.”
Hill MP Shane Knuth sparked heated debate last month after posing with a pile of dead feral pigs that had been killed in a hunting contest at Innisfail.
Mr Knuth said it was vital to get an accurate understanding of the true cost is of feral animals to agriculture.
“Without clear data, policy makers find it too easy to ignore the scope of the problem,” Mr Knuth said.
“Feral animals are one of the main spreaders of disease and destruction of crops costing the agricultural industry millions of dollars in damage and lost income.”
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said feral pigs represented a grave threat to the future of agriculture in North Queensland.
“Feral pigs continue to damage agriculture throughout my electorate of Hinchinbrook and it is good to see Senator Anning take action at a Federal level,” he said.
“This issue requires a multi-pronged approach involving both the State and Federal governments in eradicating pigs on the ground.”
Mr Anning said the risk to agriculture and the livelihood of so many in the North was too great to sit idly by.