Table of Contents
Executive Summary
PART I - ISSUES
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
Commercial Use of Wildlife
Areas of Commercialisation
Types of Commercialisation
Definitions
Conservation, Animal Welfare and Animal Rights
Other Recent Studies
CHAPTER 2 - ETHICS AND OPINIONS
An Ethical Approach to Commercial Utilisation of Wildlife
Review of Submissions Spectrum of Views
Disparity Among Conservation Groups
Scientists
Indigenous People
Lack of Informed Debate
Conclusion
CHAPTER 3 - CURRENT REGULATIONS AND POLICY
Federal Legislation
National Strategies
International Conventions and Treaties
Federal Government Policy
State Legislation and Policy
CHAPTER 4a - POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Question of Sustainability
Impact on Environment
Farming Wildlife
CHAPTER 4b - POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
(Continued)
Wildlife Utilisation on Private and Rural Lands
Superabundant Wildlife
Exotic Species
Animal Rights
Minimising Risk and Maximising Benefits
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 5 - ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES
Placing a 'Value' on Wildlife
Economic Benefits of Commercial Use of Wildlife
Public Sector Costs of Commercial Utilisation of Wildlife
Impediments to Increased Commercialisation
Property Rights and Ownership of Wildlife
Private Investment in Wildlife
Employment
Economic Viability of Wildlife Industries
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 6 - ADEQUACY OF WILDLIFE REGULATIONS
Regulations Have Failed to Protect Wildlife from
Commercialisation
Regulations are Counter-Productive to Industry Development
Regulations are Counter-Productive to Maintaining
Biodiversity
Animal Welfare
Impact of Government Policy
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 7 - EXPORT OF LIVE WILDLIFE
Evidence of Illegal Trade in Australia
Environmental Impact of Illegal Trade
Arguments in Favour of Retaining Prohibition
Arguments in Favour of Allowing Live Exports
Adequacy of Laws Relating to Wildlife Crime
Support for Export of Live Wildlife
Opposition to Live Export
Private Versus Public Rights to Export
Issues Which Need to be Resolved if Live Exports Were
Allowed
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 8 - CONDITIONS OF COMMERCIAL USE OF WILDLIFE
Valuing Wildlife
Circumstances of Commercial Use of Wildlife
Conservation Benefit
Principles Applicable to Commercial Utilisation of
Wildlife
PART II - WILDLIFE INDUSTRIES
CHAPTER 9 - MACROPODS
Kangaroo-Based Industries
Current Harvesting Practices
Opposition to Kangaroo Harvesting
Industry Potential
Industry Constraints
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 10 - EMUS
Emu Industry
Environmental and Conservation Issues
Animal Welfare
Regulatory Requirements and Difficulties
Industry Potential
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 11 - CROCODILES
History
Ranching
Skins
Meat
Northern Territory
Queensland
Western Australia
Conservation Benefits of Ranching
Indigenous Use of Crocodiles
Regulatory Requirements and Difficulties
Industry Potential
Animal Welfare Issues
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 12 - POSSUMS, KOALAS, PLATYPUS AND FLYING-FOXES
Brushtail Possum
Koalas
Platypus
Flying-Foxes
CHAPTER 13 - AVICULTURE (BIRDS)
Aviculture Industry
Bird Identification
Illegal Trade (Smuggling)
Commercial Use of Superabundant Species
Ranching of Wild Birds
Obtaining Breeding Stock from the Wild
Captive-Breeding of Rare or Endangered Species
Industry Potential
Export of Captive-Bred Native Birds
Objections to Commercialisation and Export of Birds
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 14 - REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND INSECTS
Reptiles
Amphibians
Insects
Venom Supplies
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 15 - COASTAL AND MARINE SPECIES
Muttonbirds
Turtles
Coral
Shells
Pearls
Edible Jellyfish
Seaweed
Aquaculture
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 16 - PLANTS
Wildflowers
Native Trees and Shrubs
Essential Oils
Bushfood
Plant Property Rights
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 17 - COMPANION ANIMALS (PETS)
The Importance of Pets
Native Species Do Not Make Good Pets
Some Native Species Can Make Good Pets
Australian Animals Kept As Pets Overseas
Industry Potential
Regulation of the Native Animal Pet Industry
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 18 - ZOOS, WILDLIFE PARKS AND TOURISM
Zoos and Wildlife Parks
Tourist Activities
Agricultural Tourism
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 19 - HUNTING
Recreational Hunting in Australia
Recreational Duck Hunting
Safari Hunting
Contribution to the Income of Indigenous Peoples
Contribution to Conservation
Opposition to Hunting
Summary and Conclusions
CHAPTER 20 - INDIGENOUS USE OF WILDLIFE
Significance of Wildlife to Indigenous People
Subsistence Use of Wildlife
Involvement of Indigenous People in Commercial Activities
Concerns About Commercial Utilisation of Wildlife
Summary and Conclusions
APPENDIX 1 |
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List of Submissions |
|
APPENDIX 2 |
|
List of Public Hearings and
Inspections |
|
APPENDIX 3 |
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List of Witnesses |
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APPENDIX 4 |
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Criteria for declaration of
Management Programs and Controlled Specimen Programs
under the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of
Exports and Imports) Act 1982 |
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MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Core Members:
Senator J Woodley (Chair) (Australian Democrats - QLD)
Senator W Crane (Deputy Chair) (Liberal Party - WA)
Senator P Calvert (Liberal Party - TAS)
Senator B Collins (Australian Labor Party - NT)
Senator S Conroy1 (Australian Labor Party - VIC)
Senator D Foreman2 (Australian Labor Party - SA)
Senator M Forshaw3 (Australian Labor Party - NSW)
Senator B Gibbs4 (Australian Labor Party QLD)
Senator B Heffernan (Liberal Party - NSW)
Senator S Murphy4 (Australian Labor Party TAS)
Senator K O'Brien5 (Australian Labor Party TAS)
1 To 4 September 1997
2 Resigned 15 September 1997
3 From 4 September 1997
4 From 8 April 1998
5 From 29 May 1997
Substitute Member:
Senator J Ferris (SA) substituted for Senator W Crane for
this inquiry.
Participating Members:
Senators: E. Abetz, A Bartlett, B. Brown, D. Brownhill, G.
Chapman, M. Colston, P. Cook, A. Eggleston, J. Ferris,
B. Gibbs, D. Margetts, S. Murphy, A. Murray, G.E.J.
Tambling, S. West.
SECRETARIAT
Secretary: Committee Address:
The Secretary
Mr Andrew Snedden
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References
Committee
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: (06) 277 3510
Fax: (06) 277 5811
Internet: http://senate.aph.gov.au
Research Staff: Dr Pippa Carron
Executive Assistant: Mrs Judith Wuest
TERMS OF REFERENCE
- the potential impact which commercial utilisation of
native wildlife might have on the Australian
environment;
- the current and future economic viability of these
commercial activities; and
- the adequacy of existing Federal Government
regulations and controls to ensure biodiversity of
any native species commercially utilised.
ABBREVIATIONS
AACW |
Australians Against
Commercialisation of Wildlife |
ACIL |
ACIL Economics Pty Ltd |
AFA |
Avicultural Federation of Australia |
AKF |
Australian Koala Foundation |
ANCA |
Australian Nature Conservation
Agency |
ANZECC |
Australian and New Zealand
Environment and Conservation Council |
ANZFAS |
Australian and New Zealand
Federation of Animal Societies |
AQIS |
Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service |
ARMCANZ |
Agriculture and Resource Ministers
Council of Australia and New Zealand |
ATSIC |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Commission |
ACSUG |
Asian Conservation and Sustainable
Use Group |
AWAC |
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee |
AWMS |
Australasian Wildlife Management
Society |
AWPC |
Australian Wildlife Protection
Council |
BRS |
Bureau of Resource Sciences |
CAEPR |
Centre for Aboriginal Economic
Policy Research (ANU) |
CALM |
Department of Conservation and Land
Management (WA) |
CAMPFIRE |
Communal Areas Management Program
for Indigenous Resources |
CDEP |
Community Development Employment
Projects |
CITES |
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species |
COAG |
Council of Australian Governments |
CSIRO |
Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation |
CYHS |
Cape York Herpetological Society |
DENR |
Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (SA subsequently renamed the
Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal
Affairs ) |
DEST |
Department of Environment, Sport and
Territories |
DPI |
Department of Primary Industries |
EIDC |
Emu Industry Development Committee
(Victoria) |
EIS |
environmental impact statement |
EU |
European Union |
FNQ |
Far North Queensland Network |
HSI |
Humane Society International |
HSUS |
Humane Society of the United States |
IFAW |
International Fund for Animal
Welfare |
IUCN |
International Union for the
Conservation of Nature |
KIAA |
Kangaroo Industry Association of
Australia |
MAP |
Model Avicultural Program |
MLC |
Member, Legislative Council |
MLA |
Member, Legislative Assembly |
NCCAW |
National Consultative Committee on
Animal Welfare |
NBLA |
National Bird Liberation Alliance |
NFF |
The National Farmers' Federation |
NGO |
Non-Government Organisation |
NPWS |
National Parks and Wildlife Service |
NSESD |
National Strategy for Ecologically
Sustainable Development |
PIJAC |
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council
of Australia Ltd |
QCBS |
Queensland Council of Bird Societies
|
RRA&T |
Rural and Regional Affairs and
Transport (Reference Committee) |
R&D |
Research and Development |
RIRDC |
Rural Industries Research and
Development Corporation |
RSPCA |
Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals |
TAFE |
(College of) Technical and Further
Education |
TCT |
Tasmanian Conservation Trust |
VIVA! |
Vegetarian International Voice for
Animals |
WIRES |
Wildlife and Information Rescue
Service |
WWF |
World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly
World Wildlife Fund) |
CONDUCT OF THE INQUIRY
On 30 October 1996, the Senate referred this matter to the
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References
Committee for inquiry and report by 26 May 1997. The terms of
reference were advertised in the national press and on the
Internet in late December 1996 and over 200 submissions were
initially received. On 26 May 1997, the Committee tabled an
interim report which stated, inter alia:
The Committee's preliminary review of these submissions
shows that the subject is a complex one and that some aspects
of it are of considerable concern to many people.
The
Committee has therefore decided to conduct an extensive
program of public hearings and inspections throughout
Australia during the second half of the year and expects that
a comprehensive report will be available early in 1998.
The reporting date was subsequently extended until 30 June
1998.
The Committee received a final total of 341 submissions
from a range of individuals and organisations (Appendix 1). A
large proportion of the submissions received by the Committee
were brief personal letters expressing strong oppostion to
any commercial use of wildlife in Australia (192
submissions), although usually with the exception of
nature-based or ecotourism. However, almost half of these
submissions (92) were form letters or variations of form
letters. There were also a number of submissions sent by
people which discussed aspects of the inquiry without
commenting whether they approved of commercial use of
wildlife (16).
A large number of non-government organisations sent
submissions (59). Two thirds of these were from regional
conservation or animal welfare groups (39); the remainder
coming from larger, peak bodies (20). Other submissions came
from industry (28), from state government instrumentalities
(17), Federal Government departments (3), members of
parliament or representatives of local councils (4) or groups
representing Aboriginal people (6). A number of submissions
were also sent by academics and wildlife scientists or
consultants (16).
The Committee held 14 public hearings and 11 inspections,
covering all states of Australia (Appendix 2). Oral
contributions were taken from 102 witnesses or groups of
witnesses (Appendix 3), and 1225 pages of evidence were
taken.