Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 7/80)
Character Range: 22499–25576

objectives have been developed following review of the previous threat abatement plans, and consultation with experts and stakeholder groups, including First Nations people.

Four are cross-cutting objectives that support the delivery of the on-ground actions covered in the other 5 objectives. They include: enhancing legislative and regulatory settings; ensuring cat management is evidence-based and supported by the public; delivering research to inform management; and, improving control options.

Five objectives are designed to deliver on-ground benefits to native species affected by cats: one seeks to prevent further spread of cats to islands; 3 objectives seek to protect native species that vary in their susceptibility to cat predation; and, one objective focuses on protecting native species living in peri-urban areas.

      Figure 1 The relationships between the 9 objectives in the threat abatement plan

Objectives 1 to 4 are cross-cutting, and support the on-ground Objectives 5 to 9. Objectives 6 to 8 are hierarchical, with Objective 6 requiring the strongest cat control and management for the most cat-susceptible native species.

This plan primarily addresses the threat of predation by feral cats, given this is the focus of the key threatening process for which this plan is made, but it also acknowledges and considers the role of feral cats as competitors, and as vectors for pathogens causing serious disease in native animal species, livestock and people. Further, it recognises that pet cats also cause predation and disease impacts on native species (including threatened species), and can become a source for the feral cat population, especially around human habitation and infrastructure.

This plan therefore approaches the issue of feral and pet cat management in an integrated way, noting that implementation of specific actions for both feral and pet cat management will vary with the local social, planning, and geographic context.

This plan should be read in conjunction with the background document (Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats 2024; DCCEEW 2024a). The background document provides relevant key information, evidence and referenced sources (current to the time of its publication) to support the commentary and actions in this plan, including on feral cat ecology, distribution and abundance; impacts on environmental, social and cultural values; current and emerging management practices; and research priorities.

     2 Introduction

     2.1 Threat abatement plans

The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) provides for the identification and listing of key threatening processes to biodiversity. Predation by feral cats (Felis catus) was listed under the legislation preceding the EPBC Act, the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992, and under the EPBC Act subsequently, in recognition of the significant detrimental impact feral cats have on many Australian threatened species. The national management of feral cats has been