The Invasive Species Council has warned the Minns Government risks squandering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix NSW’s failing invasive species system unless this month’s budget delivers major long-term funding reform for invasive animals.

The warning comes after the NSW government formally backed key recommendations of the landmark Natural Resources Commission (NRC) review into invasive species management – including a proposed five-year invasive species investment program, dedicated regional coordination roles and stronger statewide planning. At the time of accepting these recommendations in principle, they hinged on prioritisation in this budget cycle.

The government is yet to signal a commitment to the funding needed to turn those promises into reality.

Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough said the budget would determine whether the NRC review became a genuine turning point – or another example of governments commissioning reviews only to ignore the hard decisions required on funding.

‘The NRC review laid bare what regional communities, conservationists and landholders have known for years – NSW’s invasive species system is reactive, fragmented and fundamentally not fit for purpose.

‘The Minns government accepted that diagnosis. Now it has to decide whether it is actually willing to fund the cure.

‘Right now invasive animal management in NSW is still built around panic spending, short-term funding injections and political firefighting instead of strategic, long-term population suppression.

‘Feral pigs and deer do not disappear because a government program runs out after 12 months.

‘Without major changes, NSW faces an escalating invasive species crisis that will send native wildlife extinct, degrade landscapes and could cost the economy up to $29.7 billion a year by 2030.

‘We welcome that the government has already moved weed management to multi-year funding and announced progress on a statewide compliance function in this budget cycle. However, feral animal management remains trapped in the same ‘stop-start, ad hoc and unstrategic’ cycle condemned throughout the NRC review.

‘The NRC review was particularly brutal about the government’s feral pig programs – describing them as poorly designed, lacking evidence, lacking coordination and lacking proper monitoring and evaluation.

‘It makes little sense for the government to now commission yet another review into feral pig programs when the NRC had already comprehensively diagnosed the problem.

‘At some point governments have to stop reviewing the crisis and actually fund the solutions.

‘Feral pigs are destroying wetlands and river systems, spreading disease risks and hammering agriculture. Deer are trashing bushland, smashing fences, polluting waterways and causing dangerous road crashes.

‘Meanwhile, native wildlife continues disappearing while governments drip-feed short-term funding into a problem that requires long-term commitment.

INDEPENDENT NEWS IS IMPORTANT.

Enjoy reading Eco Voice? Please help us by purchasing a GIFT Voucher or send one to a friend and encourage people to purchase trees or seeds via The Native Shop – www.nativeshop.com.au

Plants, seeds & more delivered to your door!