Senate hears feral pig impacts

Following ABGC’s submission to the inquiry into the impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia, ABGC Deputy Chair, Leon Collins, was invited to speak at Parliament House on Tuesday 21 July. 

Due to COVID restrictions, Leon addressed the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee via teleconference to highlight the impact of feral pigs on the banana industry and the control activities of growers to suppress pig numbers. 

He informed the Committee on the biosecurity risks feral pigs posed to the industry as a vector of Panama tropical race 4 (TR4). 

He also outlined the extensive work conducted by the industry in eliminating close to 6000 feral pigs since July 2017 in TR4 hot spots in the Tully Valley. 

Leon explained that the control of feral pigs was another way to help contain and slow the spread of TR4, giving industry time to adapt, and noted that the ABGC has asked for ongoing assistance and funding from the Department of Agriculture to help the banana industry manage the ongoing feral pig problem.