TASMANIAN Greens Senator Nick McKim has called for car strikes to be classified as a "threatening process" under environment protection legislation so an abatement plan to tackle the state's high level of roadkill can be put in place.
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Senator McKim has written to Environment Minister Greg Hunt asking that he draft a plan under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to address the issue.
"Roadkill is a significant ecological problem in our state, with around 300,000 animals including many threatened species dying on our roads every year," Senator McKim said.
"Among the animals worst affected by roadkill are iconic species like the Tasmanian devil, Eastern quoll and wedge-tailed eagle.
Senator McKim said the problem was sadly highlighted by the road deaths of 13 devils who had been vaccinated against devil facial tumour disease and released back into the wild. "The roadkill problem is heightened in dry conditions like we are currently experiencing, with animals tracking further away from their habitats in search of water," he said. "The sight of multiple animal carcasses on our roads also shocks many tourists, and damages our state's clean and green brand."
A spokeswoman for Mr Hunt said anyone could nominate a key threatening process for assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee until the end of March.
