Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that the state-wide pest status of deer in the Biosecurity Act 2014, fails to recognise the cultural significance and economic value of Queensland’s four wild deer species for free range recreational and commercial harvesting for meat, skins and antlers. Deer have been present in Queensland localities such as the Brisbane and Mary Valley, Stanthorpe, Charters Towers and the Torres Strait Islands, since as far back as the 19th century, and the environment in these localities has adapted to the deer. The Red Deer that is featured on the Queensland coat of arms, highlights the cultural significance of this species in our state.

Deer populations can be sustainably managed to acceptable numbers and to maintain the quality of the animals, while avoiding undue impact on agriculture and the environment, with the assistance of recreational and commercial hunters. However, under current biosecurity arrangements in Queensland, deer populations are routinely decimated by helicopter and left to rot which is unnecessary, expensive, and wasteful.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House do all within its power to amend the Biosecurity Act allowing local councils to put provisions into their biosecurity plans for the sustainable management of deer, which recognises not only their impacts but also their benefits, with appropriate environmental safeguards to be legislated. Delegating sustainable management of deer to the local level, would provide the best opportunity to address the interests of all local stakeholders and arrive at negotiated sustainable deer management arrangements.