28th Nov 2006, 3:52 PM – Senate Motions - Macquarie Island - Rabbits & rodents eradication

The majority voted against a motion in relation to the rabbit and rodent eradication program on Macquarie Island, which was introduced by Greens Senator Christine Milne.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) Australia’s obligation under the World Heritage Convention to protect the World Heritage-listed Macquarie Island that provides nesting habitat for nearly 4 million seabirds, and provides Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conversation-listed ‘Critical Habitat’ for two nationally threatened albatross species, the wandering and grey-headed albatross,

(ii) that the feral rabbit population on Macquarie Island has exploded since the late 1990s from 10 000 to more than 100 000 as a result of reduced effectiveness of myxomatosis, eradication of feral cats and climate change resulting in increasing rabbit breeding success, and

(iii) that recent landslips have wiped out hundreds of king penguins and that the grey-headed albatross faces immediate risk of extinction in Australia due to the destruction by rabbits of the birds’ only known Australian breeding site on Macquarie Island; and

(b) calls on the Government to take immediate action to fund and implement the eradication plan for rabbits and rodents costed at $15 million so work can start immediately to ensure on-ground baiting can start in winter 2008.