Dugald Saunders, leader of the NSW Nationals and shadow minister for agriculture, has criticized the Labor administration for lacking a long-term strategy to address the escalating feral pig issue in regional NSW.
Premier Chris Minns and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty have outlined plans for an additional $8 million to fund a coordinated control program, adding to the $5 million that had already been committed by the former Coalition government.
When it comes to fixing the problem, Mr. Saunders stated that Labor needs to look farther ahead than the upcoming year.
“I welcome any investment into regional NSW, particularly for pest animal eradication and biosecurity, which was one of my top priorities during my time as Agriculture Minister,” Mr Saunders said.
“But a one-year sugar hit won’t achieve the results we need unless there is a plan and funding for the weeks, months and years after that.”
Mr Saunders went on to explain that this revelation demonstrates Labor’s lack of long-term plans for agriculture or biosecurity in the bush, and all that has been heard since the election is how many regional programs ostensibly need to be eliminated to balance the books, according to what has been said.
Additionally, Mr Saunders displayed concern of where the $8 million is coming from and states he hopes it is new funding and not being taken from the Regional Growth Fund at the value of other programs
Dave Layzell, a member for the Upper Hunter, claims to have heard the worries of landowners all around his area who are in need of a substantial resolution.
“Just a week ago I was joined by Dugald at Merriwa, where we spoke to a number of farmers who are each facing the same problem, huge amounts of destruction caused by feral pigs”, Mr Layzell said.
“It’s a difficult pest to manage, and while we welcome the funding on the table, we need more of a long term solution.”