In response to questions from Murchison independent MLC Ruth Forrest in the Legislative Council this week, Liberal upper house member Leonie Hiscutt said VDL had been visited 14 times by Biosecurity Tasmania staff in the past 24 months.

"There have been eight animal welfare reports which have been investigated with a site visit with one requiring a revisit to confirm structural modifications," she said.

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Ms Hiscutt said the other visits had focussed on animal welfare training and awareness for farm staff.

"Many of these events focused on calf sheds and calf management," she said.

"Biosecurity continues to monitor the current situation and engage with VDL property managers and owners in relation to their obligations under the Animal Welfare Act."

"There have been no prosecutions under the act."

Ms Hiscutt said WorkSafe Tasmania had received four complaints about workplace health and safety for workers at VDL and been made aware of two notifiable incidents.

She said WorkSafe Tasmania inspectors had conducted inspections on seven occasions since May 21, 2019, and multiple inspections in relation to the notifiable incidences.

Ms Hiscutt said matters considered in assessments included general housekeeping, maintenance and repair of farming plant and other farming machine, quadbike safety, hazardous chemical storage and handling, and livestock handling.

"Improvement notices were issued in relation to the maintenance and repair of tractor components and quadbike maintenance and operation," she said.

"Investigations are ongoing into some other matters."

Ms Hiscutt said the Environment Protection Authority had undertaken onsite investigations into farming operations in relation to nine environmental protection notices issued by the Circular Head Council.

She said VDL was working constructively to improve compliance through auditing processes and no penalties had been issued.

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