Tas: Abetz urges state to spend up on fox eradication

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2006
Tas: Abetz urges state to spend up on fox eradication

Federal Conservation Minister ERIC ABETZ has called on the Tasmanian government to
increase funding for its fox-free taskforce after the discovery of another fox carcass
in the state.

Senator ABETZ has accused the state government of slashing its spending on fox eradication
in this year's budget.

He says the federal government's now covering almost 40 per cent of the fight to eradicate
foxes .. allocating about 400 thousand dollars per year.

But Senator ABETZ says more funds could be available if the state government made fox
eradication a priority.

The cost to Tasmania's natural ecosystems and agriculture production could pass the
100 million dollar mark if foxes become established in the state like they are on mainland
Australia.







A spokesman for state Primary Industries Minister DAVID LLEWELLYN says the government's
committed 600 thousand dollars a year for four years to the taskforce in this year's budget
.. but has admitted its previous allocations would have been more.

The latest fox carcass .. discovered on a road in the Northern Midlands yesterday ..

is the fourth to be found in the state since 2001 .. and scientists believe the age of
the new carcass confirms the pests are breeding.

Tasmania was believed to be fox free until a report from the Canberra-based Invasive
Animals Cooperative Research Centre confirmed their presence in June.

AAP RTV rgr/crh/bart

KEYWORD: FOX ABETZ (HOBART)

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