Greens move to ban `cruel' 1080 poison

"Mr Lennon is accustomed to bullying Tasmanians who have concerns about the cruel poisoning of our native wildlife, but he has now disgraced himself and Tasmania by his arrogant behaviour on a national current affairs programme," she said.

"This is very dangerous for our so- called clean, green economy."

A Government spokesman said yesterday that Tasmania was using less poison each year and comparatively less than other Australian states.

But in some states, like Western Australia, the poison is used to target feral animals only in order to protect native species.

Native animals there have developed a resistance to 1080 because its poison is derived from a native plant.

In Tasmania 1080 is used to control the intrusion of native animals, including possums and wallabies, into farming and forestry lands.

Last year 9.5kg of 1080 was used in Tasmania, down from 12.5kg the previous year and 15.2kg in 1999.

The reduction has coincided with the further establishment of forest plantations.

The spokesman said alternatives to 1080 were being researched.

"Alternatives to poison include fencing, which isn't a very practical option in forestry, and shooting, which is encouraged but is expensive and has limitations," he said.

"Research into alternative poisons is ongoing but so far they have shown to be resisted by possums or they don't break down very readily."