Hon Andrew McNamara, Queensland Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation

Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Council members have praised the positive attitude and ability of the new Queensland Government environment minister after meeting him to discuss the biodiversity crisis facing Queensland’s wildlife and the issues of fauna surveys in national estate properties, the killing of wallabies, and ministerial use of scientific advice.

Alan Barton, Wildlife Queensland’s President, and Council member Des Boyland met the Hon. Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation yesterday to familiarise the minister with the work of Wildlife Queensland and bring him up to date with current Society campaigns.

'We had a very positive hearing from Minister McNamara,' said Des Boyland after the meeting. 'I was impressed by how quickly he has come to grips with the issues,' he added.

In the meeting, Wildlife Queensland expressed a range of concerns ranging from immediate and long-term threats to Queensland biodiversity, to how a restructured Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could continue to protect and conserve Queensland wildlife.

'Biodiversity in Queensland is under threat on many fronts, so we welcome the Minister’s enthusiastic and strategic response to our concerns,’ Des Boyland said. ‘The predicted impact of more severe climate change will ratchet up the pressure on wildlife and habitat in our State,' he added.

Wildlife Queensland’s campaign for the removal of the whiptail wallaby from the Queensland commercial culling list was also raised in the meeting. The state government currently allows a number of whiptail wallabies to be shot by licensed commercial hunters.

'We anticipate a positive outcome on this issue too,' said Des Boyland.

When the Wildlife Queensland representatives raised the restructuring of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Minister McNamara arranged an immediate briefing for them with senior EPA staff.

'Wildlife Queensland today received a guarantee that wildlife protection and management remains a primary focus of the EPA,' said Des Boyland.

Wildlife Queensland also asked the Minister to reconstitute the Scientific Advisory Committee, which has not met under the previous two ministers even though its role is to provide unbiased and expert scientific advice to the portfolio.

For more information about the poultry shed grant scheme and other activities, contact Wildlife Queensland by email or call +61 7 3221 0194.