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Invasive Animals CRC extension bid through to final stage of CRC Program 14th funding round:
The Federal Science Department announced on Thursday that the Invasive Animals CRC extension bid had made it through to the 2nd stage of the 14th funding round.
The 10 CRC applications invited to Stage 2 are:
- Plant Biosecurity CRC
- Sustainable Heritage and Responsible Development (SHaReD)CRC
- Invasive Animals CRC
- The CRC for Low Carbon Livingtralia
- CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Automotive Australia 2020 CRC (AA2020CRC)
- CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
- CAST CRC
- CRC for Polymers
- Designing Better Cities and Regional Centres CRC
The 16 CRC applications knocked out are:
- CRC for Cotton Regions
- CRC in Pharmaceutical Analysis
- CRC for Regional Innovation
- CRC for Nanodevices and Therapeutics
- CRC for Forestry
- CRC for Metals Discovery
- CRC for Beef Genetic Technologies
- CRC for Innovation in Learning and Teaching with Technology
- Sleep and Alertness CRC
- CRC for Securing & Rebuilding Biodiversity
- Parker CRC for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions
- Australian Creative Futures CRC
- CRC for Lung Health
- CRC for Telehealth and Telecare
- CRC for Social Inclusion
- Australian Power CRC
We are now preparing for our interview in early November, with Senator the Hon Kim Carr due to announce the successful CRC applicants in late December. Based on the available funds, we expect that four or five CRC applicants will be funded.
Submission deadline on proposed import of Silver foxes as pets: 20 October
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has received an application and draft environment assessment report under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to include Vulpes vulpes (Red fox, silver fox) on the live import list to allow imports for private keeping as pets and potential breeding for commercial sale.
Under the EPBC Act, the draft environment assessment report from the applicant must be published on the department’s website for public comment and relevant state and territory ministers invited to comment. The report is available for comment, closing on 20 October 2011. All comments received will be provided to the applicant to address in finalising the assessment report. They will also be taken into consideration by the department in making a recommendation to the minister.
Please forward any written comments to:
Director
Wildlife Trade Regulation Section
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2600
Email: exotic.species@environment.gov.au
The silver fox application and draft environment assessment is at:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/wildlife-trade/invitecomment/vulpes-vulpes.html
The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre opposes this application on the grounds that Vulpes vulpes is a Key Threatening Process listed under the EPBC Act that impacts on 76 EPBC listed threatened species, costs farmers $21.2 million a year in lost productivity (through predation of livestock). Foxes are declared in all States and Territories except NSW (where foxes are controlled on a regional basis). The Tasmanian fox eradication effort is one of Australia’s biggest conservation challenges where 78 native species as well as the Tasmanian lambing industry is now at risk.
National Farmers’ Federation Press Release, 1 September 2011
Silver fox not a pet, but a farm predator
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has today called on the Government to refuse the application to import silver foxes into Australia as pets and potential breeding animals.
“Foxes pose an enormous risk to Australia’s agricultural production; a fact that the Government itself acknowledges by listing the red fox – the same family as the silver fox – as an invasive species,” NFF President Jock Laurie said.
“The fact that the Federal Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is even considering importing this animal by calling for submissions on the draft environment assessment report is of great concern to us and our members,” Mr Laurie said.
“Foxes were originally introduced into Australia for recreational hunting, but just like other invasive species like the cane toad and the rabbit, soon got out of control and now pose a major threat to agriculture and the environment.
“Foxes have not only been responsible for the decline in a number of species of native animals in Australia, they also prey on newborn lambs, kid goats and poultry. The timing of this is just incredulous, with the spring lambing season now underway.
“Ironically, predation by the red fox is listed as a key threatening process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act, with a threat abatement plan for the red fox in place between the Federal Government and all states and territories.
“We are astounded that the Government would even consider introducing an animal that they have spent many years and thousands of dollars trying to eradicate. The silver fox is simply a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“Surely we have learnt from the mistakes of the past on the introduction of invasive species. Foxes are not pets, they’re predators. We are calling on the Government to reject this application outright,” Mr Laurie said.
Link: http://www.nff.org.au/read/2191/silver-fox-not-pet-farm-predator.html
