Rabbit calicivirus disease [RCD] reaches WA

24/5/96

Primary Industry Minister Monty House said today that Agriculture Western Australia had confirmed that rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) had reached Western Australia.

Three rabbits - two from Eucla and another from a pastoral station about 300km from the South Australian border - had been confirmed as having died from RCD.

The diseased rabbits had been confirmed to be carrying RCD after stringent testing was finalised late last night.

Mr House said the spread of the disease from South Australia had been inevitable and State and Federal animal health authorities had been advised that it was not feasible to eradicate the disease.

Following the spread of RCD to the Australian mainland from Wardang Island off the South Australian coast last October, the disease was now confirmed in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Mr House said wild rabbits were Australia's worst vertebrate pest, causing serious damage to the environment and robbing the nation of an estimated $600 million in agricultural production.

"While most people - farmers and urban dwellers alike - will welcome the arrival of the disease in this State, the Federal Government has so far ignored my calls for a controlled release of the disease to maximise its effect on the wild rabbit population," Mr House said.

"The news that the disease has crossed the border makes a mockery of the Federal Government's decision last month to delay the release of the virus.

"I will again be writing to Federal Primary Industry Minister John Anderson to urge him to reconsider his position in light of the latest evidence of the continued spread of RCD.

"Extensive consultation has been held with interested groups in WA over the past seven months and the controlled release of RCD has the support of the majority of farmers, conservationists and the general community."

Mr House said that after 10 years' experience in Europe and Asia, there was no conclusive evidence that the virus affected any species other than rabbits.

"Rabbits greatly reduce commercial animal and plant productivity and cause profound direct and indirect damage to soils, water resources and native plants with a subsequent impact on other animals," he said.

"While the loss to agriculture is in the hundreds of millions of dollars, the costs of loss to natural resources and the associated loss of biodiversity is immeasurable."

The Minister said Agriculture Western Australia had a comprehensive operational plan in place to deal with the arrival of the disease in this State. That plan had been effective in detecting the disease in rabbits in WA as it crossed the border from South Australia.

Mr House said as a result of a State Government decision late last year, commercial rabbit farmers had been supplied with vaccinations for their breeding stock.

Domestic pet owners could ask their local veterinarians for the vaccination.

"Agriculture Western Australia will continue to monitor the spread of the disease by natural means and stands ready with a comprehensive strategic plan for the controlled release of the disease when the Federal Government gives the go-ahead," Mr House said.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (09) 481 2044