While we can understand the rationale of consolidating biosecurity with food safety into one strategy and understand the relation and influence between them, it is our view that this removes the clear and targeted focus on biosecurity that the previous strategy communicated effectively.

We support efforts to strengthen the national biosecurity system, with particular focus on prevention and early action to prevent detrimental impacts on the Australian environment from invasive plants, animals and diseases.

Animal welfare is important – for both introduced and native species – because of an ethical imperative to try to avoid inflicting harm on sentient animals.

The Invasive Species Council welcomes the development of a new Feral Deer Management Strategy to replace the Feral Deer Management Strategy 2013-18.

The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework must have a central mission that is a clear and urgent commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Invasive species are driving massive loss of the natural world, globally and in Australia. The projections predict the pressures driving these impacts will only increase. A stronger, risk-based biosecurity system that seeks to involve all Australians is essential to limit this loss and move Australia towards ecological recovery.

Tasmania needs to take a new, biosecurity-based approach to managing the growing environmental and agricultural problems posed by increasing numbers of feral deer.

The goal of any horse management plan for Kosciuszko National Park must be to eliminate and restore feral horse damage through significant reduction in numbers.

Given their rapid growth, spread and impacts there is no justification for feral deer to remain Partly Protected Wildlife in Tasmania.