A lack of consultation on flying fox management is threatening Queensland fruit supplies.
Australian grower association Growcom has reacted with outrage at Queensland legislation introduced last week which has withdrawn damage mitigation permits for the shooting of flying foxes without alternative control strategies put in place.
Chief executive officer Jan Davis said the lack of consultation with Queensland's £400 million fruit industry on the issue was a disgrace and the decision must be reversed immediately.
"Primary industries & fisheries minister Tim Mulherin has failed to represent the fruit industry's needs in the government decision-making process and has not kept the industry informed of progress in a review of animal welfare issues which began last year," said Davis.
"In a telephone call to me last week, minister for sustainability Andrew McNamara seemed to be genuinely shocked at the industry's ignorance of current developments, however, the Environmental Protection Agency and the minister's office have a long history of keeping the fruit industry in the dark on matters of significance to it.
"We are extremely concerned at the minister's lack of understanding of the impact of this decision and invite him to undertake a farm tour to ensure he is properly informed of the management issues growers face, even on netted or partially netted properties,” she added.
"The immediate withdrawal of damage mitigation permits threatens the spring and summer fruit harvest this year as growers will have no time to find alternative crop protection options.
"This decision highlights the total insensitivity of the Queensland government to the agricultural sector - at a time when growers are trying to rebuild their businesses following cyclones and floods or in the face of a continuing drought. Their financial capacity to invest in expensive orchard netting is at an all time low."
Davis said Growcom and the fruit industry have demonstrated a serious commitment to seeking alternative, non-lethal means of managing flying foxes in fruit crops.
"We actively participated in good faith in the state government's Flying Fox Consultative Committee (FFCC), which was hosted by the DPI&F from 1999 - 2003. This forum of industry, researchers, government agencies and conservation interests investigated flying fox management options and co-ordinated specific initiatives and research," she said.
"These investigations highlighted that the only effective means of control currently available to the majority of the industry were shooting and netting.
"A comprehensive package of actions to support improved flying fox management and conservation arrangements in Queensland is urgently needed. In the meantime, government must recognise the catastrophic impact this decision will have on fruit growers and restore damage mitigation permits immediately.
"We look forward to a meeting with both minister McNamara and minister Mulherin this week to discuss the issues and develop solutions," she said.
