The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy will inquire into the problem of feral and domestic cats in Australia, with particular reference to:

a.     the prevalence of feral and domestic cats in Australia;

b.     the impact of feral and domestic cats including on native wildlife and habitats;

c.     the effectiveness of current legislative and regulatory approaches;

d.     the effectiveness of Commonwealth action and cooperation with states and territories on this issue, including progress made under the Threat Abatement Plan, national framework and national declaration relating to feral and domestic cats in Australia;

e.     the efficacy (in terms of reducing the impact of cats), cost effectiveness and use of current and emerging methods and tools for controlling feral cats, including baiting, the establishment of feral cat-free areas using conservation fencing, gene drive technology;

f.     the efficacy of import controls for high-risk domestic cat varieties to prevent the impacts of feral and domestic cats, including on native wildlife and habitats;

g.     public awareness and education in relation to the feral and domestic cat problem; and

h.     the interaction between domestic cat ownership and the feral cat problem, and best practice approaches to the keeping of domestic cats in this regard.

In conducting its inquiry the Committee will take account of the recommendations and outcomes of the 2017 Victorian parliamentary inquiry into invasive animals, and any other relevant recent inquiries or reviews.