WA government changes tack on destructive shot-hole borer, but is it ‘too little, too late'?

The West Australian government's capitulation in the fight to eradicate an invasive pest responsible for the removal of some of Perth's grandest trees has been decried as 'tragic', and newly announced research funding lashed as 'too little, too late'.
Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis revealed the change in strategy on Thursday morning after a meeting of the National Management Group the day prior deemed it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer.
Instead, the government has shifted to a 'management' approach that will focus on limiting its spread.
But Invasive Species Council policy director Dr Carol Booth said it was tragic news with 15 native tree species in WA identified as 'highly or very highly susceptible' to the shot-hole borer.
These included iconic species like paperbarks, banksias and eucalypts.
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'Another 23 species are moderately susceptible, and that's just in WA. It implies hundreds of native species across the country could be at risk if the borer spreads,' Booth said.
'We are also gravely concerned about the loss of urban trees, which provide vital habitat, shade, beauty and health benefits in our cities and towns. The environmental and social toll could be immense.
'Now that eradication is off the table, the priority must be stopping the borer from spreading beyond the Perth region.'

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Sydney Morning Herald

a day ago

• Sydney Morning Herald

Cook heads for UK to bolster AUKUS deal and build more nuclear submarines in WA

West Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a defence mission to the UK in a bid to bolster the precarious AUKUS agreement and lobby for more nuclear-powered submarines to be built in WA. The partnership between Australia, the UK and US has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office and said he plans to review it. Since the inception of AUKUS in 2021, all three leaders at the time – Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden – have either lost elections or left politics. Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer remain in favour of the deal. The state government says defence is set to become WA's second-largest industry after mining – surpassing agriculture – and lobbying for UK Astute-class submarines to be built in WA will be a major focus of five-day talks. 'The defence industry is critical to our plans to diversify our economy, and that's why this trip to strengthen AUKUS ties and unlock opportunities for local businesses is so important,' he said. Loading 'We are working to make more things right here in WA, attract more international investment, and make our State one of the best in the world to do business.' Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will join Cook on the mission, after he travelled to the US for similar talks in April where he said WA was also on the cusp of entering America's Virginia-class submarine manufacturing industry. 'From submarines to frigates, defence is Made in WA, and our local businesses are strongly positioned to support the construction and sustainment of Astute-class submarines,' he said.

The Advertiser

4 days ago

• The Advertiser

Budget billions helps cashed-up state lead debt battle

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"This budget is about fortifying Western Australia from these global shocks," she told reporters at the budget lockup. "We've focused on strong economic management and strong finances. "We could blow all the money and then leave unsustainable debt for our future generations, but we're not going to do that." Net debt is expected to grow to $33.6 billion at the end of the current financial year, $1.1 billion more than forecast in December, and expand to $42.4 billion over the forward estimates. The treasurer said debt was more than $10 billion lower than projected when WA Labor came to office in 2017. At 7.5 per cent of Gross State Product, the state's debt levels are the lowest in the nation, with net debt to GSP forecast to remain well below 10 per cent of GSP over the next four years. By contrast, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia all have net debt to GSP ratios growing to an average of more than 20 per cent or more over the next four years. 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The market for WA's key commodity, iron ore, also remained strong, along with domestic consumption and the jobs market, but global impacts on international trading partners could be significant in the future, she said. The treasurer said WA's controversial GST share was fundamental to the state's ability to fund new industrial projects that sent much of their revenue to federal coffers. WEST AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT BUDGET FOR 2025/26 * Surplus: $2.4 billion * Revenue: $50.2 billion * Expenditure: $ 47.8 billion * Net debt: $38.9 billion * GST revenue: $7.8 billion * Employment growth: 1.75 per cent * Economic growth: 2.5 per cent The nation's wealthiest state is on track to remain an outlier on debt compared to other jurisdictions as it unveils another massive surplus. Western Australian Treasurer Rita Saffioti's second state budget on Thursday delivered a $2.5 billion windfall for the current financial year, with a further $2.4 billion surplus projected for 2025-26. It's the state's seventh consecutive operating surplus, which the Cook government says will help the resource-rich state diversify and set its economy up for the future. "This budget is about fortifying Western Australia from these global shocks," she told reporters at the budget lockup. "We've focused on strong economic management and strong finances. "We could blow all the money and then leave unsustainable debt for our future generations, but we're not going to do that." Net debt is expected to grow to $33.6 billion at the end of the current financial year, $1.1 billion more than forecast in December, and expand to $42.4 billion over the forward estimates. The treasurer said debt was more than $10 billion lower than projected when WA Labor came to office in 2017. At 7.5 per cent of Gross State Product, the state's debt levels are the lowest in the nation, with net debt to GSP forecast to remain well below 10 per cent of GSP over the next four years. By contrast, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia all have net debt to GSP ratios growing to an average of more than 20 per cent or more over the next four years. WA had gone from having the highest ratio of net debt as a percentage of GSP in the country at 13.8 per cent under the previous Liberal-National government to having the lowest under WA Labor, Ms Saffioti said. WA's relatively lower debt position can be linked to its controversial GST deal, consulting firm Adept Economics said. Debt is climbing rapidly in all states except WA over the next four years, according to the firm's analysis. Victoria has the worst debt outlook, while NSW, SA and Queensland are competing for the second-worst position, it said By 2027-28, gross state debt per capita will be $35,000 in Victoria, $30,000 in SA, $29,000 in Queensland and $28,000 in NSW. Western Australia had the most favourable debt outlook at about $18,000. Ms Saffioti said WA was the most resilient state in the nation and with manageable debt levels. The market for WA's key commodity, iron ore, also remained strong, along with domestic consumption and the jobs market, but global impacts on international trading partners could be significant in the future, she said. The treasurer said WA's controversial GST share was fundamental to the state's ability to fund new industrial projects that sent much of their revenue to federal coffers. WEST AUSTRALIAN LABOR GOVERNMENT BUDGET FOR 2025/26 * Surplus: $2.4 billion * Revenue: $50.2 billion * Expenditure: $ 47.8 billion * Net debt: $38.9 billion * GST revenue: $7.8 billion * Employment growth: 1.75 per cent * Economic growth: 2.5 per cent