Biosecurity, it's time is was taken seriously
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Hay & Fodder News
- May 16, 2019
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Grain Producers Australia chairman, Mr Andrew Weidemann, is calling for all parties to commit to the prioritisation of biosecurity. It is time for the biosecurity needs of Australian agriculture to be put first. Importers must be required to contribute towards the costs of our domestic biosecurity actions.
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The grains industry is worth $14 billion to the with an additional $12 billion contributed from exports.
“GPA calls for the immediate imposition of a biosecurity levy on all incoming containers to ensure a broader base for biosecurity funding.” Said Mr Weidemann.
“As the largest funding contributors to the activities of Plant Health Australia, grain farmers are rightly concerned about other plant sectors contributions under the current funding model.” Said Mr Weidemann.“Those creating potential risks for Australian industries need to take responsibility and contribute appropriately to the management of those risks. Plant and plant product importers need to be held accountable for the cost of surveillance, eradication of the pests and diseases that could enter the country.
”Mr Weidemann emphasised “The importation of cut flowers and foliage is an area of considerable concern to GPA, due in part to the on-going high level of biosecurity non-compliance amongst flower and foliage importers. It is untenable that our industry continues to be put at significant risk from the importation of cut flowers and foliage potentially carrying arthropods such as two-spotted mite, thrips and aphids.”
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“The Federal department’s own draft Pest Risk Analysis report showed that in the eighteen years between January 2000 and February 2018, there were more than 38,000 interceptions recorded-this is indefensible. ”Said Mr Weidemann “Departments and courts need to take biosecurity breaches seriously.”
The cut flower and foliage import protocols were altered in March 2018 in recognition of the previous failures, but the changes have largely been rendered irrelevant given the lack of consequences for ongoing on-compliance. The Department’s own draft report contains an acknowledgement of their concerns regarding on-going and significant non-compliance.
There is growing evidence our biosecurity systems are being undermined, with recent media reports of misconduct and lack of appropriate oversight on imports. Recently, newspapers have reported that a former biosecurity officer was found guilty of taking bribes from a flower importer. The officer was fined only $10,000, with the three-year suspended jail sentence.
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The potential consequences for a lack of appropriate oversight for the Australian agricultural industries could be severe.
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