Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens' Terrestrial Environment spokesperson
The government's announcement of $100,000 is a positive step, but much more needs to be done to save the Tasmanian wombat population from the spread of sarcoptic mange.
The spread of wombat mange across the State is a symptom of the desperate underfunding of the Parks and Wildlife Service. While the government is providing some funds for research and volunteers, they are starving Parks of the funds it needs to save the wombat.
This government is also still issuing crop protection permits for landholders to kill wombats. This must be reversed, as mange spreads and numbers fall.
The Liberals can't give $100,000 with the right hand, starve Parks and Wildlife, and hand out the licence to kill with their left. It's counterintuitive, and an attempt to distract from the bigger issue in the lead up to an election.
It's too little, too late for the wombats of Narawntapu National Park. There are only 10 wombats left in a park that used to be home to hundreds.
It will take a unified effort to combat localised extinction, and restore wombat numbers.
The Greens offer our sincere thanks to the committed volunteers who have done the best they can to save the local wombat population.
We strongly urge the government to support the Kelso wombat carers in whatever way they can.