The Minns Labor Government welcomed the release of the Natural Resources Commission’s (NRC) final preliminary report into the ongoing biosecurity risks of introduced species.

The preliminary report, ‘Reducing Risk, Securing the Future – NSW Invasive Species Management Review’ delivers on an election commitment and provides a comprehensive overview of the priority risks and impacts of invasive species in NSW, including the effectiveness of management strategies set up by the former Government.

Invasive species are a serious threat to landscapes, with more than 340 weed and 40 pest animal species causing extensive impacts to the NSW economy, environment, and communities.

Concerningly, the report highlights the cost of invasive species to NSW ballooning from $661.2 million in the 2000s to $1.9 billion in 2022-23.

This year’s state government budget included a record $946 million allocation for biosecurity, with an additional $60 million announced recently to rebuild essential infrastructure across the State’s network of research stations where work is ongoing to address biosecurity and other threats.

The report further projects that without concerted action by 2030, new incursions could cost the state $29.7 billion annually.

This preliminary review will now open for consultation with industry, experts and stakeholders, with a final report to be published before the end of the year, including a framework and recommendations to address the impacts of invasive species moving forward. 

The New South Wales Government has made it clear that strengthening the state’s resilience, response and protection against biosecurity threats is a priority, with the NSW’s first Independent Biosecurity Commissioner Dr. Marion Healy appointed this year. 

In line with the preliminary report recommendations of the NRC the NSW Government is also:

1. Investing $26 million between 2023 and 2025 to deliver the Feral Pig Program and expanded Feral Pig and Pest Program
2. Updating regional pest animal management plans and developing annual operations plans to outline how priority pest animal will be targeted though local control programs
3. Developing an updated Local Land Services compliance policy to guide the agency’s strategic approach to pest animal and weed compliance
4. Rolling out the $10 million Good Neighbour Program to tackle pest and weed infestations on private property neighbouring public land
5. Reviewing the regulatory and policy settings for priority pest and weed species

Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said, “The Government commissioned this report so we could understand the problems we inherited from the former Nationals/Liberal Government’s management of this critically important area.

“While the NRC was developing this report we haven’t sat still - we’ve got on with the job and started addressing the feral pig problem, fixing the system’s governance by creating the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner role and appointing Dr Marion Healy, plus providing record funding for biosecurity and NSW local land services.

“We are committed to responding to the NRC report comprehensively and we are already reviewing the current compliance settings to make sure they are fit for purpose.

“In addition, we will be making sure that public land managers are not only compliant but are leading the way in how they manage the public estate for future generations. 

“As a government we will continue to provide education and guidance about what is required to assist all land managers comply with their biosecurity responsibilities.”