- Final report - Pest animal management (August 2016)
- NSW Government reponse to final report - Pest animal management (May 2017)
Government response to the Commission's final report

The NSW Government has responded to the Commission's Final Report - Shared problem, Shared solutions - on the review of pest animal management in NSW.
The final report was prepared in response to a Terms of Reference from Government requesting a state-wide review of pest animal management.
The final report identifies opportunities to enhance the approach to managing pest animals in NSW to deliver lasting environmental, economic and social outcomes across all land tenures. The review draws on close to 600 submissions from landholders, recreational and special interest associations, community groups, and government bodies; over 100 research publications; as well as extensive consultation with public and private stakeholders across NSW. The Commission greatly appreciates the time and effort of all those involved throughout the review.
For enquiries about the final report, please contact the Commission on 02 9228 4844 or nrc@nrc.nsw.gov.au.
For enquiries about the Government response, please contact Dr Andrew Sanger, Department of Primary Industries on 02 6042 4207 or andrew.sanger@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
Submissions on draft report
The Commission received over 400 submissions out of which 27 are confidential.
The following link shows all non-confidential submissions.
All non-confidential submissions
Below are attachments to individual non-confidential submissions.
A- Alain Remont
- Alexander Herr
- Amanda Wheatley
- Animal Liberation NSW - Alex Vince
- Anne Gold
- Annette Comerford and Victoria Wattson
- Australian Brumby Alliance - Jill Pickering
- Australian Deer Association NSW - Martin Thann
- Australian Deer Association and Field and Game Australia Inc - Barry Howlett
- Australian Government - Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Deb Langford
- Australian Government - Department of the Environment - Gregory Andrews - Threatened Species Commissioner
- Australian Government - Department of the Environment - Stephen Oxley
- Australian Veterinary Association - Sue McGrath
- Cat Protection Society of NSW Inc - Kristina Vesk
- Catherine Watt
- CatRescue 901 Limited - Erica Trinder
- Central Acclimitisation Society - Don Barton
- Central Murray County Council - Daryll Morris
- Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd
- Country Womens Association - Danica Leys
- Culgoa Vertebrate Pest Management Group - Michael Davis
- Far South Coast Farmers Network - Wayne Schaefer
- Federation of Hunting Clubs - Mark Banasiak
- Forestry Corporation of NSW - Rahmat Khaiami
- Gaia Research Environmental Consultants - Garry Daly
- Game and Pest Management Advisory Board
- Glen Innes Natural Resources Advisory Committee - Kylie Falconer
- Graeme Kerr
- Greg Scott
- Haemish Bongers
- Hargraves Hill End Wild Dog Action Group - Helen Lawson
- Hoofs2010 - Lynette Sutton
- Hunter Valley Brumby Association - Madison Young
- Hunter White
- Individual 1
- Individual 3
- Inner City Strays
- Invasive Species Council, Nature Conservation Council of NSW and BirdLife Australia - Charlie Sherwin
- Ken Hooper
- Kenneth and June Spinks
- Kim and Gabrielle Taysom
- Kit Strong
- Koenraad Dijkstra
- Koi Society of Australia - Martin Rocliffe
- Landcare NSW - Sonia Williams
- Laura Noble
- Lawyers for Companion Animals
- Les Kowitz
- Local Government NSW
- Lord Howe Island Board - Andrew Walsh
- Macquarie and Lachlan Valley Weed Advisory Committee - Lis Arundell
- Margaret Hall
- Mark Jones
- Martin Auldist
- Mary Ann Gourlay
- Maurice Barr
- Meli Souter
- Michael Green
- National Parks Association - Oisin Sweeny
- National Wild Dog Action Plan - Duncan Fraser
- Nepean Hunters Club Inc - Peter Johnson
- Noeline Franklin
- NSW Farmers Association - Dominica Hannaford
- NSW Sporting Shooters Association of Australia - Diana Melham
- Rabbit Free Australia - Nicholas Newland
- Raphael Bongomin
- Richard Busby
- Rob Brewster
- Rob Fickling
- Robert Rubesa
- Rod and Juleen Young
- Roger Thornback
- Rosalie Chapple
- Rosemary Young
- RSPCA Australia - Di Evans
- Rural Hunters Association - John Dunn
- SAFE Inc - Heather Irwin
- Save the Brumbies - Jan Carter
- Shoalhaven Landcare Association - Greg Thompson
- Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils - Helen Sloan
- Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Grafton Branch - Daniel Spears
- Stephen Larsson
- Steve and Karen Graham
- Susan Andrews
- Sutherland Shire Council - Stewart Harris
- Sydney Coastal Councils Group Inc - Belinda Atkins
Submissions on issues paper
The Commission received 176 submissions.
The following link shows all online non-confidential submissions.
All online non-confidential submissions
Below are submissions received as an attachment to the online submission form or separately through email or post.
A- Aaron Burke
- Adam Rolfe
- Alan Peterson
- Anthony Denmeade
- Australian Deer Association
- Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association Inc
- Barrier Area Rangercare Group
- Bite the Bullett
- BK and CJ Tomalin
- Blue Mountains Field Sports Association Inc
- Bob Spiller
- Bungawalbyn Landcare
- Malcolm Horne
- Mark Rafferty
- Michael Hurtado
- Michael Trigg
- Mitchell Clapham
- Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc
- National Parks Association of NSW
- Newrybar Swamp Feral Pig Management Committee
- Noeline Franklin
- Northern Zone Hunting Club
- NSW Aboriginal Land Council
- NSW Council of Freshwater Anglers
- NSW Farmers' Association
- Pastoralists' Association of West Darling Inc
- Pat King
- Pet Industry Association of Australia Ltd
- Peter Stitz
- Peter Webb
About the review
The review identified opportunities for improving arrangements for pest animal management in NSW. In developing our advice, the Commission:
- investigated the quality of evidence and processes supporting prioritisation decisions
- identified priority pest animal issues and emerging risks
- considered examples of best practice and the barriers to more effective pest animal management
- evaluated opportunities to better coordinate, redirect or grow investment and management across different tenures and pest species
- identified priority research needs
- investigated ways to promote community ownership in pest animal management
- considered implementation and transitional issues.
The review considered introduced terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate species. Native animals and animals in the marine environment were not included.
The Premier requested the Commission to establish an advisory committee, headed by the Commissioner Dr John Keniry. This Committee consisted representatives from the Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services and the Office of Environment and Heritage. Mr Terry Korn PSM was an independent member on the Committee.
Background information on pest animals in NSW
Pest animals create significant economic, social and environmental costs for NSW. It is estimated NSW farmers spend around $22 million each year to manage pest animals, while the total economic impact of pest animals is conservatively estimated to be $170 million each year. However, the losses extend far beyond agriculture and pest management costs, to major social and emotional impacts on landholders and communities.
Currently, pest animals are managed across different tenures by private and public land managers. There is a perception that the pest animal problem is getting worse despite efforts of landholders and governments, and that more coordinated approaches are needed.
With the introduction of the Biosecurity Act 2015, the NSW Government has sought to streamline the regulatory framework for pest animals - and biosecurity risks generally - by consolidating legislative requirements under one Act. This Act promotes managing biosecurity as a shared responsibility, and is a fundamental shift to how pests have been managed in the past.
Further information on the Biosecurity Act 2015 is available on the Department of Primary Industries website.
Draft report factsheets:
- Overview of pest animal management (March 2016)
- Widespread pest animals (March 2016)
- Deer management (March 2016)
- Feral cat management (March 2016)
- Feral horse management (March 2016)
- Carp management (March 2016)
- Recreational hunting (March 2016)