ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010
Mr CHANDLER: … Melaleuca, where there was mimosa found to be dead and no one could explain
why, and I believe that there was going to be some research undertaken to find out how it died. Do
you have any more information on that?
Mr HAMPTON: I will pass that to Diana Leeder for further information on that one.
Ms LEEDER: I do not know, member for Brennan, whether I can actually answer that specific
question. I know that the department has used a number of biocontrol agents and released those in
particular areas. Some of those have been particularly effective and some less effective. I cannot
answer the particular question about the patch of mimosa at Melaleuca.
Mr WOOD: It is more than a patch, actually.
Ms LEEDER: Well, the large area.
Mr Tollner: Maybe you could take it on notice.
Ms LEEDER: I am happy to take it on notice.
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Question on Notice No 8.6
Mr CHAIRMAN: Could you repeat that question for Hansard?
Mr CHANDLER: Can we find that information in regard to mimosa that had died on the station at
Melaleuca?
Mr HAMPTON: I might also add that, under the current program, Caring for our Country, along with
the Indigenous Land Corporation, there are projects for mimosa management, and that is up to next
year, July next year. NRETAS is assisting the Northern Land Council with developing a new Caring
for Country application, but certainly, in terms of that, there might be some answers there as well from
the Northern Land Council.
Mr CHAIRMAN: The member for Brennan’s question on notice is No 8.6.
____________________________
Mr WOOD: I have a question about the Crocodile Management Plan. Minister, I believe you are going
to go to a private management plan, because you have not increased the number of staff, but you
have increased the number of traps, put in an extra boat, unless those couple of people you have
possess many hands and travel around quickly they are not going to be able to use all that
equipment.
There is a philosophical question that has never been debated. You are Parks and Wildlife; crocodiles
are part of our wildlife. You have qualified people working in that area and you mentioned them
before. Why does the park not simply put that money which is going into privatisation into getting
extra people? Perhaps employing more Indigenous people? We spoke earlier about rangers for
looking after fisheries. Why do we not go down that path because surely catching crocodiles is only
part of the question? It is about a total picture of management and they are part of our native fauna.
So, really, has the government basically made up its mind that this management plan will be
privatised and not be part of a basic function of your department?
Mr HAMPTON: Member for Nelson, we certainly have not made up our mind. As I have stated, we
wanted to feel what interest was out there in the private sector; I think there are many people with a
lot of experience up here in the private sector who may do a good job, as well. I think if we were to go
ESTIMATES COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS – 17 JUNE 2010
down that path – and I am not saying we are – then obviously that may free up those people to do
crocodile management in other parts of the Top End, particularly, but I think there are great
opportunities through A Working Future, the growth towns, to also look at how we can provide these
opportunities in crocodile management monitoring to many larger Indigenous communities along the
coast. But it is just, as I said, expressions of interest. I wanted to test the private sector to see what
interest is out there, what expertise. We have not made our decision, but I will certainly take your
comments on board.
Mr WOOD: Just a final question on that. Within the Darwin region, there is Malacca Swamp, Shoal
Bay Conservation Area, Tree Point, Howard Springs Hunting Reserve, Howard Springs itself, Holmes
Jungle, Charles Darwin National Park, I do not know whether I want to include Berry Springs Park in
it, but when it comes to removing crocodiles, if I was to stick up for the rights of crocodiles – I am not
saying we should not remove them from places – and Black Jungle, unfortunately there was a death
there - is it your department’s policy that crocodiles will be removed from conservation reserves where
you would think they would be allowed to remain because they are conservation reserves? So, are
you going to basically remove crocodiles - well, you have these reserves and they are reserves
because they protect our wildlife - if you are going to take crocodiles out of there, is that the way you
should manage these parks? I want to know if crocodiles are safe in your parks, or are you going to
get rid of them?
Mr HAMPTON: I might get John Woinarski to answer that. For me, the CrocWise strategy is about
public safety.
Mr WOOD: That is right.
Mr HAMPTON: And that is why we have the 50 km management zone. In terms of problem
crocodiles, we also remove those on top of the other crocodiles that we remove in our management
zone, but in terms of our parks …
Mr WOOD: That zone will cover all your parks in that area?
Mr HAMPTON: I will get John to answer the rest of that.
Mr WOINARSKI: Actually, your question is about parks, with respect, so it could well have come
under the previous output. The management of crocodiles in parks is related both to the crocodiles’
status and the interactions with humans and as policy of the parks as specified in the management
plan that crocodiles will be removed if they pose a danger, real or potential, to human safety. So,
where there is any likelihood of people swimming, crocodiles will be removed from parks.
Mr HAMPTON: For example, we do have traps in some of our parks where they do pose a public
safety risk, and they will be removed.
Mr WOOD: All right. Thank you.
Mr TOLLNER: A couple of questions, very simple. Minister, can you tell me how many geese were
shot in the Northern Territory at the last goose hunting season by waterfowl hunting permit holders
and by people who do not hold hunting permits?
Mr HAMPTON: Member for Fong Lim, I will see if this answers your question. As you said, it is a fairly
simple one. What I can say is that there were a total of 1565 water fowl hunting permits issued in
2008, 1854 in 2009. There has been a total of one infringement notice issued in relation to the use…
Mr TOLLNER: Sorry, number of birds, or in this particular occasion, magpie geese shot.
Mr HAMPTON: Yes. Just looking down, and I am happy to take that on notice.
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