Member for Murray Helen Dalton, Member for Albury Justin Clancy and Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr have written to Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty seeking answers following reports that funding for this year's annual native seed harvest has ceased, resulting in the loss of experienced native seed collectors across the Murray region.
Reports indicate 13 highly experienced seasonal native seed collectors have been affected, including nine from the Corowa and Albury district and four from Deniliquin.
The MPs said they had been contacted by former seed collectors, environmental professionals and community members who were deeply concerned about the future of the program and the loss of specialist capability built over decades.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the decision risked losing knowledge that could never be replaced.
"These aren't simply seasonal jobs.
“These are people who have spent decades developing an extraordinary knowledge of our native species, ethical seed collection and environmental restoration.
"A temporary surplus of seed should never be used as justification for dismantling decades of specialist expertise.
“Native seed collection is seasonal, location-specific and essential to maintaining future supplies. Once these people are gone that knowledge is extraordinarily difficult to rebuild."
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said native seed collectors performed a highly specialised role that extended well beyond harvesting seed.
"These collectors don't simply gather seed.
“They know where individual native species grow, how seasonal conditions affect seed availability, how to harvest sustainably while protecting genetic diversity, and how to ensure quality local provenance seed is available for revegetation projects."
"The Murray Native Seed Bank is an important environmental asset for our region.
“It supports local councils, Landcare groups, nurseries, landholders and restoration projects with locally sourced native seed.
“At a time when governments are rightly talking about biodiversity, habitat restoration and resilience to climate change, protecting this capability should be a priority."
Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said native seed collection was important to Australia’s ecological future and should be supported, rather than scaled back.
“At a time of a worsening climate risk and ongoing risks to environmental sustainability, we should be prioritising the collection and growth of native seed management to literally plant the new shoots of environmental protection,” he said.
“The loss of jobs and hard-won specialist knowledge is a blow to those efforts and even worse, the loss of capability in this sector will have a negative impact on a range of organisations dedicated to protecting native biodiversity and restoring habitat that can only be provided by native plant species.
“There is a risk that the current excess of seed stock may not be enough for the ongoing protection and enhancement of our environment in the future, and I urge the government not to take a short-sighted approach that could lead to a long-term problem.”
