❓ Mr. Hunter questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the government's response to increasing mouse populations in WA grain-growing regions, seeking information on assessments, briefings, risk areas, economic impact modelling, communication with stakeholders, support for stronger bait, financial assistance, contingency planning, alerts, public updates, bait supply, regulatory concerns, and lessons learned from past plagues.

I refer to increasing reports of significant mice activity across grain-growing regions of Western Australia and recent warnings from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and industry stakeholders regarding the risk posed to seeding operations and crop establishment:(a) What assessment has the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) undertaken regarding current mice populations across the WA grainbelt;(b) Has the Minister been formally briefed on the extent of the current mouse outbreak and its potential impact on the 2026 seeding program and grain production;(c) Which regions in Western Australia are currently considered to be at highest risk of severe mouse infestation;(d) Has DPIRD undertaken or commissioned any modelling on the potential economic impact of the mouse plague on the Western Australian agricultural sector;(e) What communication has the Minister or Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) had with any of the below regarding management of the current mouse outbreak:(i) the CSIRO;(ii) Grain Producers Australia;(iii) WA Farmers; and(iv) the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA);(f) Is the State Government supporting applications for emergency approvals or expanded access to higher-strength zinc phosphide bait products, including ZP50 formulations:(i) If yes, what action has been taken and on what dates; and(ii) If no, why not;(g) Has the State Government considered any emergency financial assistance or rebate programs for affected growers facing significant baiting costs and crop losses;(h) What contingency planning has been undertaken should mouse numbers continue to increase during seeding and crop emergence;(i) Has DPIRD issued any formal alerts, management advice or preparedness notices to growers regarding the outbreak;(j) Will the Minister commit to providing regular public updates to growers and regional communities on the evolving situation;(k) What measures are being undertaken to ensure sufficient supply and distribution of mouse bait products throughout regional Western Australia during seeding;(l) Has the Minister raised concerns with the Commonwealth Government regarding regulatory delays associated with approval of more effective bait formulations; and(m) What lessons has the State Government incorporated from previous mouse plagues experienced elsewhere in Australia, including the 2020–21 eastern states outbreak estimated to have caused more than $1 billion in damage? I refer to increasing reports of significant mice activity across grain-growing regions of Western Australia and recent warnings from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and industry stakeholders regarding the risk posed to seeding operations and crop establishment: (a) What assessment has the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) undertaken regarding current mice populations across the WA grainbelt; (b) Has the Minister been formally briefed on the extent of the current mouse outbreak and its potential impact on the 2026 seeding program and grain production; (c) Which regions in Western Australia are currently considered to be at highest risk of severe mouse infestation; (d) Has DPIRD undertaken or commissioned any modelling on the potential economic impact of the mouse plague on the Western Australian agricultural sector; (e) What communication has the Minister or Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) had with any of the below regarding management of the current mouse outbreak: (i) the CSIRO; (ii) Grain Producers Australia; (iii) WA Farmers; and (iv) the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA); (f) Is the State Government supporting applications for emergency approvals or expanded access to higher-strength zinc phosphide bait products, including ZP50 formulations: (i) If yes, what action has been taken and on what dates; and (ii) If no, why not; (g) Has the State Government considered any emergency financial assistance or rebate programs for affected growers facing significant baiting costs and crop losses; (h) What contingency planning has been undertaken should mouse numbers continue to increase during seeding and crop emergence; (i) Has DPIRD issued any formal alerts, management advice or preparedness notices to growers regarding the outbreak; (j) Will the Minister commit to providing regular public updates to growers and regional communities on the evolving situation; (k) What measures are being undertaken to ensure sufficient supply and distribution of mouse bait products throughout regional Western Australia during seeding; (l) Has the Minister raised concerns with the Commonwealth Government regarding regulatory delays associated with approval of more effective bait formulations; and (m) What lessons has the State Government incorporated from previous mouse plagues experienced elsewhere in Australia, including the 2020–21 eastern states outbreak estimated to have caused more than $1 billion in damage?