❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food's handling of the Polyphagous shot-hole borer outbreak, accusing the government of failure and demanding her resignation. The Minister deflects blame, citing previous government's budget cuts and highlighting her government's response efforts.
AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Polyphagous shot-hole borer
378. Hon Neil Thomson to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
My question without
notice, of which no notice has been given, is to the Minister for Agriculture
and Food.
(1) After the government's delayed response, the
imposition of gag orders on local authorities, the failure to build on the
collaboration of the community, only now to publicly admit failure, how can the
minister continue to justify her position as Minister for Agriculture and Food?
(2) Given the devastating implications this pest poses
to WA's horticulture and urban tree canopy and the clear breakdown and
strategic oversight leading to one of the largest biosecurity failures in
Western Australia's history, will the minister take accountability and resign?
378. Hon Neil Thomson to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
My question without
notice, of which no notice has been given, is to the Minister for Agriculture
and Food.
(1) After the government's delayed response, the
imposition of gag orders on local authorities, the failure to build on the
collaboration of the community, only now to publicly admit failure, how can the
minister continue to justify her position as Minister for Agriculture and Food?
(2) Given the devastating implications this pest poses
to WA's horticulture and urban tree canopy and the clear breakdown and
strategic oversight leading to one of the largest biosecurity failures in
Western Australia's history, will the minister take accountability and resign?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) That was a very longwinded
question. I know that the rules of this house normally require a concise
question and a quite concise answer. There were a lot of elements to that
question so perhaps I can say that the failure in biosecurity is from your side
of government. In 2015, there were huge budget cuts. According to The West Australian , the director general reported
crisis meetings. In 2016, Ken Travers—not Ken Travers; apologies—Ken
Baston had a very public fight with the Treasurer about cutting biosecurity
staff. It is only this government, the Labor government, that has restored
biosecurity staff.
Several members
interjected.
The President: Order! The Minister for Agriculture and
Food will provide her response in silence.
Hon Jackie Jarvis: As soon as this pest was detected,
it was reported to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development and a DPIRD entomologist was on the phone to that household within
hours. DPIRD staff were there the next day. A national alert went out. The
emergency response organisation federally reported how well WA did in managing
this pest. The failure is not of this government, and no, I will not resign.
question. I know that the rules of this house normally require a concise
question and a quite concise answer. There were a lot of elements to that
question so perhaps I can say that the failure in biosecurity is from your side
of government. In 2015, there were huge budget cuts. According to The West Australian , the director general reported
crisis meetings. In 2016, Ken Travers—not Ken Travers; apologies—Ken
Baston had a very public fight with the Treasurer about cutting biosecurity
staff. It is only this government, the Labor government, that has restored
biosecurity staff.
Several members
interjected.
The President: Order! The Minister for Agriculture and
Food will provide her response in silence.
Hon Jackie Jarvis: As soon as this pest was detected,
it was reported to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development and a DPIRD entomologist was on the phone to that household within
hours. DPIRD staff were there the next day. A national alert went out. The
emergency response organisation federally reported how well WA did in managing
this pest. The failure is not of this government, and no, I will not resign.
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