1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: There are always issues in the territory when it comes 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: to the different types of animals we've got around the place. 3 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: But one of those concerns right now, as I understand it, 4 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: is our feral pigs. Now joining me on the line 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit more about the situation. NT 6 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: Field and Game spokesperson Bart Irwin, Good morning to you. 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 2: Bart, Good morning Katie mate. 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: What's going on with the wild pigs at the moment. 9 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 2: Well, it's no secret that they roam across most of 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: the top end. They're just about everywhere right to the 11 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: very outskirts of Darwin and the rural area. But yeah, 12 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 2: there are three devastating animal born diseases now endemic in 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: the top end or on our doorstep. They are Japanese 14 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 2: and caphalitis. It has been found at middle point in pigs. 15 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: There new folk dam and foot and mouth disease recently 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: found in Indonesia, an African fine swine flu which has 17 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 2: been in team or less day for some time now. 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: And all of these diseases use pigs as a vector 19 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: and in the case of Japanese and cathal itis, the 20 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: mosquitoes use pigs as a bloodbank before infecting humans. Farmers 21 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: out there a middle point have been offered vaccination for 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: Japanese and cafl ititis in the pigs there, New folk 23 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 2: damp and if foot and mouth transfers from Indonesia will 24 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: cost the Australian lives of industry billions, along with government 25 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: that will have to control the African swine fever also 26 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 2: pose a similar threat to the pork industry in Australia. 27 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: These diseases are the last thing Australian ags is. Inflation 28 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 2: rises and food costs, especially meat prices spiral. Add to 29 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 2: that a recession that is looming, it seems should be 30 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 2: quite bleak. 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: I reckon so mate, from your perspective, obviously you're with 32 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: nt Field and Game, a spokesperson for NTA Field and Game. 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: You and I have spoken before about good hunting and 34 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: various other things. But from your perspective, what could this 35 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: do you know for us here in the Northern Territory. 36 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 2: Well, int Field, we have been advocating to Ministers Baller 37 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 2: and Yubo in the last Cabinet for a number of 38 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: years to investigate a million dollar pig hunning program on 39 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 2: into parks and wildlife land and mayor parks that would 40 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: destroy virtually all pigs on parks and what are parks 41 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: land allous of piglets and therefore ProCheck visitors to those 42 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: areas that may be bidden by mosquitoes. It would also 43 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: reduce the numbers of pigs that cross through fences to 44 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: adjacent pastalis properties and infect valuable stock that we rely 45 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 2: on for food mat competition. 46 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: You we'll talk us through what this would look like, 47 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: this competition, the million dollar pig program. Is it similar 48 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: to what we're seeing with the million dollar fish? 49 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: It is similar, It is similar, but it would run 50 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: for up to eight to nine months, so the dry 51 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: the dry months of the year, and what parks would 52 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:03,080 Speaker 2: need to do is go on to certain allotments and 53 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: you know, they could ballot those out over the eight 54 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: month period, so one day could be or one month 55 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: it could be Harrison Dam, let's say, and trap some 56 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: pigs there, put a microchip in their ears so that 57 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 2: they were unidentifiable as the million dollar pig or a 58 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: ten thousand dollar pig, and then allow hunters one month 59 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: to hunt that area. By doing that, they would shoot 60 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 2: every ball, sow and piglet there, hoping to get the 61 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 2: million dollar pig or at least a dividend, So they 62 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: just take the years off, bring years back into a 63 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: to a scanning device the government could set up and 64 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: that would then be scanned and you're either a winner 65 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: or not there's nothing in the air, or you've got 66 00:03:58,960 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: the winning number. 67 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: But there'll be some animal activists listening this morning thinking 68 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: this is not a good idea. But we have got 69 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: an issue right now, don't we with those feral pigs. 70 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 2: Oh, certainly we have. And if this disease gets there, 71 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 2: well it's foot in mouth or African swinefully to get out. 72 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 2: It'll be worse for every animal that is either behind 73 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: water or not in the territory. So the animal activists 74 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: should understand that feral pigs are dangered both to many 75 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: many animals, but to our magpoint geese. They destroy this, 76 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: they eat eggs, they destroy habitat. So that's one thing 77 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: that Mt. Field and Game is always very keen to 78 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 2: eliminate and to control, is the destruction that pig scores 79 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: to our beautiful magpoy gooese. 80 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: And but have you had much feedback from the government 81 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: on the side. 82 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 2: Well, Minister Lawler has pushed it back across the table 83 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 2: to me repeatedly. We're hoping now with Lauren Moss and 84 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 2: Nicole Manison taking up those portfolios, that we can get 85 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: into discussions with them explain how it works. It just 86 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: needs an amendment to the Wildlife Act. I think it 87 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,600 Speaker 2: is says the Wildlife Act of the Park Parks Act. 88 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,119 Speaker 2: But they would certainly know, and that's what they're paid 89 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: to do. They're paid to legislate, make amendments and that 90 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:38,719 Speaker 2: would then happen. I've spoken with the opposition and Jared Mayley, 91 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: as you would imagine, is very keen to went on 92 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: this type of competition, just as the Sea or Be 93 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: introduced a million dollar barrow. They see the tourism benefits 94 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 2: to our regions and to the territory. You can just 95 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: imagine all the coinsland coinsland and Western Australian pig hunters 96 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 2: coming across the border, just as the fishermen come to 97 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: the million dollar bar But they're becoming great the nine 98 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: months and a few of those months in the shoulder season. 99 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: So it could be a good thing from for tourism. 100 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: From your perspective, oh it. 101 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: Would, yeah, it would help tourism. It would help you know, 102 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: these guys are going to break stuff on their vehicles. 103 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: They'd be, they'd be staying in areas like the bark 104 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: Hut In or any of those areas for accommodation. They'd 105 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: be using fuel, they'd be, they'd be feeding dogs, they'd 106 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: be doing all sorts of things. So money, money would flow, 107 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: just as it has with a million dollar barro. So 108 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: I really hope that Minister Moss and Minister Madison sit down. 109 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: Like I've spoken with senior people in both parks and 110 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 2: within Biosecurity, they both say it's a it's a fabulous idea. 111 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 2: It just needs needs tweaking and it needs planning. But 112 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: it all they need that amendment to the Act. 113 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: Well, but I'll tell you what I'm really interested to 114 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: hear from our listeners this morning what they think of 115 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: the idea as well. They can call through eight nine 116 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: four one one four nine. We are going to have 117 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: to wrap up. But anything else happening very quickly with 118 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: field and game that we should be aware of this morning. 119 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: Well, we shoot just about every Friday at Klay Targets 120 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: at the mike A Creek Shooting Complex, and Sunday morning 121 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: I'll be running Sunday Mass for those who want to 122 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: come down and have a sneaky little quay target shoot 123 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: with you today. Most Sundays faile the bats running Sunday Mas. 124 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: I was going to say, but I feel like it's 125 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: a different kind of mass to what some others might attend. 126 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 2: It is. You can just say to mom, I'm going 127 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 2: to mass and turn up at the gun club and 128 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: we'll have a shot and enjoy the morning and then 129 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 2: sneak back on. 130 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: It's always good to catch up with you, mate. I 131 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. 132 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.