A pledge to include regional differentiation for Tasmania’s biosecurity status has received bipartisan support, that has been welcomed by industry leaders.
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Earlier in the month, members of the Primary Industry Biosecurity Action Alliance (PIBAA) called on the federal government to make a commitment to include the region specific legislation into the new and improved Biosecurity Act 2015 that came into effect on June 16.
The new act, that replaced a federal framework act that was 100 years old, did not appear to specifically give the state the ability to self-regulate against specific threats to the state. Without the commitment, the state did not have the ability to protect itself from threats such as fruit fly, that is present on mainland Australia but is not present in Tasmania.
This week, the Coalition confirmed that a re-elected Turnbull government would allow Tasmania to have state-centric quarantine status on specific imported products. This matches a similar commitment made by the ALP.
In addition, the state’s biosecurity conditions would be recognised in the federal government’s biosecurity import conditions database, provided there is scientific evidence to support them.
PIBAA spokesperson Frances Bender welcomed the commitment of all major political parties to recognise the state’s need for regional differentiation in its biosecurity legislation.
“This is a great day for the protection of Tasmanian primary industries and the broader Tasmanian brand. Under the new regulations we will retain the ability to set the bar higher where needed to protect our disease and pest free status and importantly our clean green reputation,” Ms Bender said.
“Speaking from the perspective of the salmon industry, if an exotic pest or disease entered Tasmanian waters via the importation of some uncooked fish, the ramifications would be unthinkable.
“Hard working regional Tasmanian families would be the hardest hit at a time when employment levels are rebuilding after the forestry downturn.” PIBAA members include: Wine Tasmania, Tasmanian Aquaculture Council, Oysters Tasmania, Tasmanian Abalone Council, Forest Industries Association Tasmania, Hop Products Australia, Tasmanian Island Pork Alliance, Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association, Fruit Growers Tasmania, Agricultural Contractors of Tasmania, Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Nursery and Garden Industry Association (Tas), Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council, Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group, Poppy Growers Tasmania and the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.