Tasmania remains one of the few Australian states that still permits the use of 1080 poison to control native browsing animals such as wallabies, pademelons, and possums. Applied through carrot baits under government-issued permits, the toxin is promoted as a last resort to protect agricultural land.
But 1080 is far from selective. It is a highly potent, slow-acting poison that causes prolonged suffering before death, and it does not discriminate between its intended targets and the countless other animals who share the same landscape. Birds, quolls, eagles, and even domestic pets can become unintended victims through direct ingestion or secondary poisoning.
For decades, scientists, welfare groups, and wildlife advocates have questioned whether a method that inflicts such suffering and collateral harm has any place in modern land management. As understanding deepens and humane alternatives emerge, the call for a complete ban on 1080 in Tasmania is growing stronger than ever.
What Is 1080?
1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) is a synthetic poison designed to disrupt energy production in cells, leading to convulsions, organ failure, and eventual death. There is no antidote once ingested. Although fluoroacetate occurs naturally in certain mainland Australian plants, no native Tasmanian vegetation contains it. In Tasmania, 1080 is introduced as a manufactured compound.
The poison is prepared by mixing sodium fluoroacetate into a 1.5% solution, dyed blue to discourage birds, and then applied to chopped carrot bait at a final concentration of 0.014% active ingredient. Animals vary greatly in their sensitivity: carnivores such as devils, quolls, and domestic dogs are particularly vulnerable, with even small doses proving lethal.
How It’s Used in Tasmania
Under the Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010, landholders can apply for Property Protection Permits (PPPs) to use 1080 as a last resort for crop protection.
Permit conditions include:
- Demonstrating browsing damage and unsuccessful alternative control
- Implementing buffer zones from waterways and residences
- Notifying neighbours
- Recovering poisoned carcasses
- Record-keeping for audit compliance
Despite these safeguards, complete recovery of carcasses is impractical, and oversight remains limited. Departmental data shows that around 10% of permits are audited, leaving room for error and non-compliance.
The Indiscriminate Toll
The key concern with 1080 is its indiscriminate impact.
Animals affected include:
- Non-target native species such as quolls, eagles, ravens, and devils
- Birds consuming poisoned insects or carrion
- Domestic animals who scavenge carcasses
- Secondary and tertiary victims through food-chain exposure
A single poisoned pademelon may contain enough toxin to kill up to 12 dogs or 9 cats. In birds, visible symptoms may appear within hours, but death can occur up to 11 days later. Aside from individual suffering, these losses ripple through ecosystems, weakening predator-prey balances and undermining biodiversity.
Once Banned — Then Reversed
Tasmania once stood on the verge of becoming a leader in humane pest control. In 2005, the then-State Government committed to a phase-out of 1080 poison, responding to mounting public concern and growing recognition of its cruelty. The plan aimed to end all use by 2015, supported by funding for non-lethal alternatives and community education.
By 2011, 1080 use had fallen dramatically, and Tasmania was widely praised for its progress. But in 2014, the decision was reversed. The incoming government reinstated the use of 1080 for private landholders through Property Protection Permits, arguing it remained necessary for browsing animal management.
The reinstatement marked a step back from earlier progress and serves as a reminder that lasting change requires consistent leadership and community support for humane, science-based approaches.
Trends Over Time
Tasmania publishes annual 1080 usage data through its Game Tracks reports, showing that the total quantity of poison used each year is now small, but its impacts remain significant.
In 2023–24, just 0.49 kg of 1080 was used across 14 authorised operations, down from 0.91 kg in the previous year. While these numbers appear low, the extreme potency of sodium fluoroacetate means even a few grams can kill dozens of animals.
Research consistently shows that animals poisoned with 1080 experience severe distress before death. Symptoms include vomiting, convulsions, disorientation, and prolonged respiratory failure, often lasting hours or even days before unconsciousness.
The RSPCA and veterinary toxicologists classify 1080 as inhumane because it fails to meet humane pest control standards, which require rapid unconsciousness followed by swift death. Despite decades of use, no improvements have reduced this suffering – strengthening the case for its replacement with modern, humane alternatives.
Humane and Practical Alternatives
Tasmanian guidelines recognise that 1080 should be a method of last resort, and that non-lethal methods should be prioritised.
Alternatives include:
- Wildlife-friendly fencing
- Crop planning and habitat buffering
- Motion-activated deterrents
- Regenerative agricultural practices that promote coexistence
Many landholders already successfully use such methods, demonstrating that compassionate coexistence is achievable without resorting to poison.
A Growing Call for Change
Across Tasmania, momentum is building to end 1080 use entirely. Organisations including RSPCA Tasmania, Coalition Against 1080, and local wildlife rescue groups have called for a phase-out and government investment in humane alternatives.
Community petitions, such as the current Tasmanian Parliament e-petition, reflect growing public awareness and support for a ban. The science is clear and the ethics undeniable. Tasmania can lead the way by choosing modern, humane land management.
What You Can Do
- Sign the petition to ban 1080 in Tasmania
- Contact your local MP and express your support for humane, non-lethal methods
- Share this article to raise awareness
- Support wildlife carers and rescue organisations who see the impacts first-hand
A Kinder Path Forward
1080 poison is an outdated and cruel tool in a modern world that knows better. Its use undermines Tasmania’s clean, green reputation and causes immeasurable suffering to the wildlife that defines our island.
It’s time to move forward, with compassion, science, and respect for the creatures that make Tasmania wild.
It’s time to ban 1080 in Tasmania.
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