I will talk a bit about the New South Wales wildlife care and rehabilitation sector review. I am leading this review and will provide recommendations to the Minister for the Environment in the other place, the Hon. Penny Sharpe, about opportunities to improve support for the wildlife care and rehabilitation sector and associated veterinary sector. The review will take around a year, and a report will be submitted to the Minister in October 2025. The Government will consider future funding opportunities following the statewide consultation. The outcomes of this review will ensure that the Government's support for the sector is strategic and efficient and is provided to the areas of highest need.

This consultation is the direct result of a three-year strategy that was coming to an end and the rehabilitation sector expressing a clear desire to shape the future. As part of a number of round tables, site visits and consultations across the State over the next year, the Government has asked me, on its behalf, to express appreciation to wildlife carers for their commitment and dedication to rescuing tens of thousands of injured, sick and orphaned native animals each year. For example, in 2022-23, nearly 105,000 animals of 532 different specific were rescued, including nearly 3,500 threatened animals. The week before last, at the beginning of this review, I travelled with some departmental staff to Queanbeyan for a round table. The room was filled with wildlife carers, who talked to us about some of their hopes for the future, some of their fears and their work.

Many members will remember that during the Black Summer bushfires not only did we see the destruction of homes, lives and great expanses of land, but also what came to the fore through media attention was the huge amount of wildlife that was impacted. Since that time, the ways we can better support those who support, care and rehabilitate our wildlife has been front of mind for different agencies and governments. Visits to Queanbeyan, Bungendore and the Mid South Coast were part of two days of intensive travel. We visited Steve Garlick and the team at Possumwood Wildlife Hospital in Bungendore. We visited Janelle Renes, Renata Cooper and the WIRES carers team at Bimbimbie, just outside of Batemans Bay. We visited Kate Toyer, a vet at the Eurocoast Veterinary Centre at Surf Beach. We then went on to Wandandian and Wildlife Rescue South Coast in Falls Creek. I acknowledge the fantastic work that Belinda Donovan does there. It was really humbling to see some of the work and check on the outcomes of the care and rehabilitation of a range of gorgeous native animals.

Last week I got on the road again and headed out to Dubbo, where we met with a number of carers from the Central West who do this work. It was great to welcome different members and council representatives to each of the visits. As the Parliamentary Secretary leading this review, I thank those wildlife carers and express my gratitude on behalf of the Government. I thank Josh Gregory, from the Minister's office, and the agency representatives from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, including Janelle, Susan, Karen and John. I thank the fantastic people at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, including Alisa, Jodie and Steve for hosting me. It was a great trip.