Inquiry Into the Utilisation of Victorian Native Flora and Fauna
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ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO THE UTILISATION OF VICTORIAN NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA REPORT June 2000 ___________________________________ Ordered to be printed ___________________________________ VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER 2000 No 30 Session 1999/2000 The Committee records its appreciation to all those who have contributed to the Inquiry and the preparation of this report. A large number of individuals and organisations made their expertise and experience available through the submission process, the Committee’s inspection program and the public hearing process; they are listed in the Appendices. Specialist consultancies were undertaken by Mr Quentin Farmar-Bowers of Star Eight Consulting, Dr Graham Steed of G.R. Steed and Associates Pty Ltd and Mrs Tannetje Bryant and Mr Keith Akers of the Faculty of Law, Monash University. Technical review and advice was provided by Dr Robert Begg and Mr Spencer Field of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and their associates. Additional technical advice was provided by Mr Tony Charters, Director of Planning and Destination Development, Tourism Queensland, Dr Graham Hall and associates of the Tasmanian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Professor Hundle of the National Ecotourism Accreditation Program, and Dr Ray Wills, Senior Ecologist at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, Western Australia. The cover photograph is of Grampians Thryptomene (Thryptomene calycina) taken by Dr David Beardsell. Cover design by Luke Flood of Actual Size, with printing by Acuprint. Editing services were provided by Ms Heather Kelly. The report was drafted by the staff of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee: Ms Julie Currey, Dr Andrea Lindsay, and Mr Brad Miles. Administrative support was provided by Miss Kate Brown and Ms Kathy Karlevski. The research program was under the direction of Mr Brad Miles, Executive Officer of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Environment and Natural Resources Committee (2000) Utilisation of Victorian Native Flora and Fauna - Inquiry Report ENRC, Parliament of Victoria. ISBN: 0 7311 5512 2 Environment and Natural Resources Committee Level 8, 35 Spring Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Phone: (03) 9651 3533 Fax: (03) 9651 3674 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/enrc © State of Victoria PAGE ii ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 54TH PARLIAMENT Mr George Seitz, MP Chairman Hon Graham Stoney, MLC Deputy Chair Mr Hugh Delahunty, MP Ms Joanne Duncan, MP Mr Craig Ingram, MP Ms Jenny Lindell, MP Mr Terry Mulder, MP Hon Bob Smith, MLC ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE - 53RD PARLIAMENT Mr David J Perrin, MP Chairman Ms Sherryl M Garbutt, MP Deputy Chair Hon Barry W Bishop, MLC Hon Cameron Boardman, MLC Hon Tayfun E Eren, MLC Mrs Judy M Maddigan, MP Mr John Pandazopoulos, MP Mrs Helen J Shardey, MP Mr Garry H Spry, MP PAGE iii INQUIRY TERMS OF REFERENCE Parliamentary Committees Act 1968 REFERRAL OF MATTER TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE The Governor in Council under Section 4F of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1969 refers to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee for inquiry, consideration and report to the Parliament, the following matter relating to the utilisation of Victorian native wildlife and flora which, due to recently completed or ongoing Government inquiries, does not include marine fish and mammal species, game species as defined in the Wildlife Act 1975, pest species and native trees harvested for timber- The Committee is required to report within the framework of ecologically sustainable use and particularly: (a) identify the potential for utilisation of Victorian flora and fauna; (b) assess the economic and environmental sustainability of that potential for different taxa of flora and fauna; and (c) examine and report on the existing statutory and other controls on the utilisation of native wildlife and flora in Victoria and recommend on necessary changes in light of the findings on (a) and (b) above and any outcomes of the Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Utilisation of Australian Native Wildlife. The referral was accepted by the Committee on 10 August 1998, but lapsed on the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly and prorogation of the Legislative Council on 24 August 1999. The Terms of Reference were reissued to the Committee on 23 May 2000. PAGE iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Environment and Natural Resources Committee iii Inquiry Terms of Reference iv Table of Contents v Preface vi 1 Introduction 1 PART A - AN ESD FRAMEWORK 2 An ESD framework 15 PART B - SECTOR ACTIVITY AND POTENTIAL 3 Commercial Use of Plants 31 4 Animal Product Industries 89 5 Ecotourism and Recreation 137 6 Other Sectors 179 PART C - GLOBAL ISSUES 7 Environmental Issues 203 8 Research and Knowledge 233 9 Statutory Controls 275 10 Habitat Protection 345 PART D - RECOMMENDATIONS 11 Conclusions and Recommendations 361 12 Facilitating Selected Sectors 383 Appendices I Abbreviations, Definitions and Glossary 411 II The Senate Inquiry 424 III Errata to the Discussion Paper 428 IV List of Written Submissions 429 V List of Inspections and Informal Briefings 432 VI List of Witnesses 437 VII Development of an ESD Framework 439 PAGE v PREFACE The greater majority of the Inquiry into the Utilisation of Native Victorian Flora and Fauna was undertaken by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the 53rd Parliament. This Committee conducted hearings, considered submissions, commissioned research projects and undertook inspections across Victoria as well as interstate and overseas. Prior to the calling of the election and consequent lapsing of the Inquiry it had substantially completed its report. The new Environment and Natural Resources Committee has reviewed the work of the previous Committee and has, with a limited number of amendments, endorsed it. In adopting the following inquiry report, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the 54th Parliament acknowledges the comprehensive work of its predecessor. George Seitz, MP Chairman PAGE vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION · BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY · SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY · TERMS AND CONCEPTS · THE INQUIRY PROCESS · ISSUES ARISING FROM THE CONSULTATION PROGRAM The Report This Report of the Parliament of Victoria’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee Inquiry into the Utilisation of Native Victorian Flora and Fauna is tabled in the Parliament pursuant to Section 40(1) of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1968. BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY Victorian legislation has typically led the nation in animal welfare and wildlife protection issues. Notably the establishment of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in 1980 was the forerunner of all such committees in Australia and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 was one of the first modern animal welfare statutes in Australia. The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 was one of the first pieces of legislation that addressed the conservation of native flora and fauna through the management of threatening processes. As a consequence of the State’s current legislation and regulatory controls, with three notable exceptions, few species of native flora and fauna are taken from the wild in Victoria. The three main exceptions to these restrictions on utilisation are the taking of defined game species (for example certain species of native duck), the harvesting of fish and the utilisation of native forests for timber. Legislative provision for these three forms of utilisation is long-standing. Notwithstanding restrictions in Victoria on taking native species from the wild, cull or removal of defined species of native fauna is permitted if a local population is deemed to be having an adverse impact on agricultural activity or the special values of public land. One such instance, the culling of kangaroos in the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, proved highly controversial.1 There was a public outcry with calls for such culling to cease. Others, while supporting the culling, were dismayed at the perceived PAGE 1 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE 2000 INQUIRY INTO THE UTILISATION OF VICTORIAN NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA waste and advocated that use be made of the carcasses for meat or skins as is permitted in other States.2 There have been other instances where the use of animals that are being killed as part of culling programs has been advocated. For instance, suggestions for making use of corellas, cockatoos and galahs being killed as part of required culling programs were investigated by the Committee during 1994-1995. 3 In June 1998, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee tabled and published its report, Commercial Utilisation of Australian Native Wildlife.4 The Inquiry considered an array of philosophical, environmental and economic issues associated with the use of wildlife, as well as reviewing existing wildlife industries across Australia. ‘Wildlife’ was taken by this Committee to include native plants as well as animals, although the emphasis was on native animals. The Senate Committee proposed a series of generally applicable principles and made 12 recommendations, four of which specifically referred to the States. These are included as Appendix II of this Report. Their effect is that, subject to meeting prescribed conditions and processes, commercial utilisation of any species is supported.5 This Committee’s Terms of Reference, unlike those of