The Long Road to Protecting West Australian Farms from Invasive Pests

In my years as a medical doctor, I have learned that a delayed diagnosis can be just as dangerous as a wrong one. When we identify a problem that threatens the health of our environment or our economy, we must act with precision and speed. Bureaucracy, however, often prefers a much more glacial pace.

For years, our agricultural sector and local governments have been sounding the alarm on the impact of invasive bird species. These are not merely a nuisance; they represent a direct threat to our biosecurity and the livelihoods of hardworking Western Australians. This is a situation where inaction costs money and damages ecosystems.

The waiting room of bureaucracy

Imagine being asked for your input on a critical health plan, only to hear nothing for three years. That is exactly what happened with the proposed Western Australian pest parrot and cockatoo management strategy. Public consultation closed years ago, yet local government representatives were left in the dark, told repeatedly that the strategy was still a work in progress.

This is the kind of administrative inertia that frustrates me deeply. When the community takes the time to provide feedback, they deserve more than a black hole of silence. While the major parties play politics and manage optics, we look at the evidence and the urgent needs of our regional communities. The risk of delay is visceral: it means more damage to crops, more pressure on native species, and more financial strain on our farmers.

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A sudden breakthrough in the House

I took these concerns to the Minister for Agriculture and Food today. I wanted to know if the department remained committed to a statewide policy or if this was just another example of government priorities failing to align with the public interest. The response was a reminder of why we must keep up the pressure in Parliament.

It appears that my questioning provided the necessary nudge. The Minister informed me that the department has finally prepared the management report and guidelines. These documents are now available online and are being sent to those who participated in the consultation. It is a win for transparency, though one that shouldn’t have taken years to achieve.

We are a tribe of forward thinkers who believe in evidence-based solutions. Whether it is agricultural management or drug law reform, we demand that the government stops dragging its feet and starts delivering for the people. We cannot have a healthy state if our policies are perpetually stuck in a filing cabinet.

The full details of this interaction can be found in the official record of Parliament. If you want to help us push for more common sense in Western Australia, join Legalise Cannabis WA and help us hold the government to account.