Page 3527 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 12 October 1994
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Remainder of Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
Sitting suspended from 12.24 to 2.30 pm
ABSENCE OF CHIEF MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, I wish to advise the Assembly that the Chief Minister will be absent from question time today in order to attend the memorial service for Sir Geoffrey Yeend. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition is attending the same service. Madam Speaker, in the absence of the Chief Minister, members may wish to direct to me any questions which they would normally have asked the Chief Minister.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Kangaroos - Culling
MR MOORE: Mr Lamont will not get the opportunity to answer, on behalf of the Chief Minister, my question, because I direct my question to Mr Wood as Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning. I indicate that I did give Mr Wood notice that I would be asking a question of this type. A unanimous report of the Conservation, Heritage and Environment Committee has recommended a species specific culling of kangaroos. No-one likes the thought of this type of action. Long-term solutions such as fencing out need to be explored. In September members of this house, in a non-partisan way, urged action. The Canberra Weekly last week urged in its editorial, "Culling the only answer to kangaroo invasion". The Minister may be aware of a serious accident yesterday in the ACT in which a motorist hit a kangaroo. Minister, when will you make a decision on, and indicate to this house, the controls that you intend to put into place to allow culling of kangaroos?
MR WOOD: Madam Speaker, I understand that there was an accident yesterday, and I am sorry if it was caused by hitting a kangaroo. Accidents of that nature, of course, can happen at any time. Mr Moore said that no-one likes the thought of killing kangaroos. That is certainly the case. Therefore, the Government, through my department, has been giving a great deal of attention to management policies for kangaroos. It may be the case that over recent seasons the numbers have increased, and that, with the drought, they are more common around the city area. Some time ago I issued a discussion paper. It was passed around interested groups in the community. When that was refined I sent that paper to two committees; one being the Government's Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, and the other the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment. Each of those has reviewed the matter. It is now back in my hands to further examine the issue and consider all options ahead of deciding what course the Government will take.
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