World Heritage destroyed on Premier Lennon's watch
26 Mar 2007
WWF-Australia expressed extreme alarm that the Tasmanian Government steadfastly refuses to be part of the long-term solution to the rabbit plague that is destroying World Heritage-listed Macquarie Island.
Tasmania's refusal today to co-fund the Macquarie Island rabbit and rodent eradication plan is a shameful act of political brinkmanship that will make the grey-headed albatross more vulnerable to extinction in Australia due to the destruction by rabbits of the birds' only known Australian breeding site on Macquarie Island's Petrel Peak.
The Tasmanian Environment Minister, Paula Wreidt, confirmed today that the Tasmanian Government is still refusing to pay anything towards the eradication plan for rabbits and rodents on Macquarie Island.
"The simple fact is that Tasmania owns the island and is responsible for its day to day management, including feral animal control," said WWF's Invasive Species Policy Officer, Julie Kirkwood.
"It has a statutory obligation to responsibly manage the island under its own laws. Not meeting the Australian Government half way on funding the plan, or announcing a reasonable counter-offer continues the stalemate between the Tasmanian and Australian governments."
At worst, WWF was expecting the Tasmanian Government to put a reasonable counter offer to the Australian Government's offer to pay half the $24.6 million bill for the eradication plan but today's announcement shows the Tasmanian Government has no interest in fulfilling its legal obligations under the Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act to responsibly manage the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve.
"Tasmania's recent mis-management of Macquarie Island and continued stalling on finding a solution to the problem of invasive animals on the island is damaging Australia's international reputation as a strong steward of important natural values," said Julie Kirkwood, WWF's invasive species policy officer.
"This will be put into sharp focus at the World Heritage Committee meeting in June to be held in New Zealand."
The Macquarie Island re-supply ship, Aurora Australis, leaves Hobart on 6 April. It will include an Automatic Weather Station that is part of the start up part of the eradication plan funded by WWF and Peregrine Adventures.
The rabbit and rodent eradication plan is the only effective long term solution to the island's rabbit plague.
"Macquarie Island cannot afford to lose anymore time over political haggling," said Ms Kirkwood.
Macquarie Island is being devastated by rabbits and rodents, with well over 100,000 rabbits rapidly mowing down the 13,000 hectare island and wildlife haven. Landslips and erosion have increased in recent years as a result, which is destroying hillsides and killing seabirds including albatrosses and penguins.
For more information
Angela Heck, Press Office, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1268
Mobile: 0421 053 023
Email: aheck@wwf.org.au
Julie Kirkwood, Policy Officer, Invasive Species, WWF-Australia
Phone: 03 9669 1303
Mobile: 0417 121 430
Email: jkirkwood@wwf.org.au
