2645. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the issuing of fauna causing damage licences for native fauna, and I ask:
(a) for each of the last 10 financial years, will the Minister please advise of:
(i) how many applications for licences were received;
(ii) the total number of applications granted and rejected, if any;
(iii) the number of applications granted by species; and
(iv) the number of applications granted by reason type;
(b) are the cumulative impacts of “fauna causing damage” licences issued for native animals in Western Australia monitored;
(c) if yes to (b):
(i) what data is collected;
(ii) is this information publicly available;
(iii) does this information inform future guidelines for the granting of licences; and
(iv) if no to (iii), why not; and
(d) if no to (b), why not?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has advised:
(a) DBCA is unable to report the total number of applications received nor the number of applications that did not lead to a licence being issued, as the system in which wildlife licensing information is held does not record this information.
[See tabled paper no 3472 for details about the number of applications granted, by species and activity type - Hon Alison Xamon — QON No. 2645 — Number of fauna causing damage licences issued
(b) Cumulative and/or spatial impacts are considered as part of the process of assessing a licence application.
(c)
(i) As a condition of the issue of a fauna causing damage licence, licensees are required to submit information about the number of each species of fauna taken or disturbed under the licence (known as a ‘licence return’). Location information is also collected as licences are issued for a particular location. In addition, species such as western grey kangaroo and red kangaroos are monitored through aerial surveys and other periodic population assessments.
(ii) This information was published in the former department’s Yearbook until 2015/16, after which time the publishing of the Yearbook ceased. These Yearbooks remain publicly available on the department’s website.
(iii) This information is considered to guide the assessment of a licence application. In addition, a damage licence will only be issued to the same licensee if the required returns have been supplied for the previous licence/s, as the information contained in the licence return is also considered during the licence application assessment.
(iv) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.