On May 9, the Tasmanian government reversed a ban on the controversial sodium fluoroacetate product called "1080" that was due to come into effect next year. Many Tasmanians have fought against use of the pesticide, commonly used by farmers to manage animal pests, as it kill animals indiscriminately; according to Greens leader Kim Booth, farmers should instead turn to fencing or targeted removal of the pests. Primary industries minister Jeremy Rockliff, however, argued that the ban was premature. He maintained that the product is essential to farmers, who report that they already lose a quarter of their income to browsing animals, and said that the government will not phase out 1080 until a viable alternative is developed. According to chief executive of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Jan Davis, the larger issue is that over half of the state’s land is owned by a government that is not fulfilling its responsibility to control pests. For the full story, see http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/09/farm-poison-ban-reversed-by-new-tasmanian-liberal-government and http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/tasmanian-govt-scraps-1080-pesticide-ban/story-fni0xqi4-1226912154808.