ME Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY The economic impact of pest animals including Carp, Feral Pigs, European Red Fox, Feral Cats, Feral Goats, Wild Rabbits and introduced birds has been estimated to cost the NSW economy around $170 million. Carp numbers in the Murray Darling river system are exploding. Did you know that 90% of the fish mass in our rivers is carp? These rabbits of the river are destroying our natural waterways and environment and their control and eradication needs to be a priority. Feral Pig numbers are also going through the roof as they spread disease, destroy habitat, compete with our native plants and animals and damage our crops and pastures. In the NSW 2024-25 State budget the government announced $945.7million for biosecurity measures. This included $13.1 million in the 2024-25 budget for the Feral Pig Program which is a good start. I think the NSW government should be looking across the Victorian border to learn how they manage their Fox control program. Victoria's fox and wild dog bounty scheme pays $10 for entire fox scalps and $120 for entire wild dog body parts. Trapping can be undertaken with the aid of mesh cage traps, or soft/rubber jawed leg hold traps and lures. There must be a better way than using 1080 in NSW to control this pest. Should we introduce a similar bounty to control this destructive animal on our properties? I believe we should be doing everything we can to protect the state's $22 billion agriculture industry and a bounty on Foxes is just as critical as Carp and Feral Pig control and eradication. On a recent trip to Deniliquin as I drove into town, I stopped by a what I can only describe as a "Fence of Fame." There must have been at least 30 Fox pelts hanging from the fence. It was a glorious sight and if there was a bounty, I'm sure the $3000 or so this family could have earned would have gone a long way towards easing cost of living stress in the bush and saving their livelihood and the environment. Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP, Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. Griffith 02 6962 6644 Deniliquin 03 5881 7034 Buronga 0475 683 288 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au ME Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY The economic impact of pest animals including Carp , Feral Pigs , European Red Fox , Feral Cats , Feral Goats , Wild Rabbits and introduced birds has been estimated to cost the NSW economy around $ 170 million . Carp numbers in the Murray Darling river system are exploding . Did you know that 90 % of the fish mass in our rivers is carp ? These rabbits of the river are destroying our natural waterways and environment and their control and eradication needs to be a priority . Feral Pig numbers are also going through the roof as they spread disease , destroy habitat , compete with our native plants and animals and damage our crops and pastures . In the NSW 2024-25 State budget the government announced $ 945.7million for biosecurity measures . This included $ 13.1 million in the 2024-25 budget for the Feral Pig Program which is a good start . I think the NSW government should be looking across the Victorian border to learn how they manage their Fox control program . Victoria's fox and wild dog bounty scheme pays $ 10 for entire fox scalps and $ 120 for entire wild dog body parts . Trapping can be undertaken with the aid of mesh cage traps , or soft / rubber jawed leg hold traps and lures . There must be a better way than using 1080 in NSW to control this pest . Should we introduce a similar bounty to control this destructive animal on our properties ? I believe we should be doing everything we can to protect the state's $ 22 billion agriculture industry and a bounty on Foxes is just as critical as Carp and Feral Pig control and eradication . On a recent trip to Deniliquin as I drove into town , I stopped by a what I can only describe as a " Fence of Fame . " There must have been at least 30 Fox pelts hanging from the fence . It was a glorious sight and if there was a bounty , I'm sure the $ 3000 or so this family could have earned would have gone a long way towards easing cost of living stress in the bush and saving their livelihood and the environment . Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP , Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements . Griffith 02 6962 6644 Deniliquin 03 5881 7034 Buronga 0475 683 288 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au