Thursday, 4 August 2022

Corella control

Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:20): My question is for the minister for the environment in the other place. The government is soon to release a 10-year corella management plan. Corellas across Victoria are coming into areas uncharacteristically due to climate change, habitat destruction and scarcity of food sources. The perceived solution is almost always lethal, through poisoning or shooting, but is unnecessary, costly, ineffective and cruel. Just recently new technology has been put in place in South Australia, developed by a leading environmental organisation called Cherrp, which provides unique and customised wildlife management solutions. Cherrp identifies the type of bird present and, through AI technology, designs communication in response to deter the bird, with effective results, and the best part is nobody dies. Will the minister consider the implementation of this technology, which is cheaper and more effective, before the corella management plan is finalised?

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Veterans) (12:21): On the list we have I have responsibility, but I am happy for someone else to take it off me if they please. Thank you, Mr Meddick. I really appreciate your consistent concern, particularly for wildlife in Victoria. That is a question for the minister for environment, and I will ensure that very important question gets to that minister and you get a response in accordance with the standing orders.

Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:22): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. My supplementary is that the state of the environment report revealed native animals, which corellas are, obviously, are facing an extinction crisis. What data does the government rely on to justify deploying lethal methods?

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Veterans) (12:22): Thank you, Mr Meddick, for that question, and I will ensure the minister for environment gets that supplementary question and you get a response in accordance with what is prescribed in the standing orders.