❓ Question on Notice regarding the oversight of Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) by DPIRD and the setting of the declared pest rate. The Minister denies intervening to limit funding and outlines the process for determining the rate.
AnsweredQoN 1031Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RECOGNISED BIOSECURITY GROUPS — DECLARED PESTS
1031. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Colin de Grussa , who is away from the chamber on
urgent parliamentary business. I refer to the oversight of recognised
biosecurity groups by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development and the setting of the declared pest rate.
(1) Which specific directorate or
branch of DPIRD has direct responsibility for RBGs?
(2) On how many
occasions has the minister intervened in the setting of the declared pest rate
so as to limit the amount of funding available to the RBG; and can the minister
list those occasions?
(3) In the event
that the declared pest rate is effectively capped by the minister, what
financial assistance is available to RBGs to make up any shortfall in funding
caused by the cap?
1031. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon Colin de Grussa , who is away from the chamber on
urgent parliamentary business. I refer to the oversight of recognised
biosecurity groups by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development and the setting of the declared pest rate.
(1) Which specific directorate or
branch of DPIRD has direct responsibility for RBGs?
(2) On how many
occasions has the minister intervened in the setting of the declared pest rate
so as to limit the amount of funding available to the RBG; and can the minister
list those occasions?
(3) In the event
that the declared pest rate is effectively capped by the minister, what
financial assistance is available to RBGs to make up any shortfall in funding
caused by the cap?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1) The
department's biosecurity directorate manages the compliance and
governance arrangements of recognised biosecurity groups as well as the
administration of the declared pest account.
(2)–(3) I do not accept the premise of the member's
question. As the minister, I am responsible for the determination of the
rate under section 130(1) of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act
2007. Determination is informed by RBGs' proposed operational plans,
advice from DPIRD and the outcomes of consultation.
Hon Martin Aldridge interjected.
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN : I have been exercising my responsibility under
section 130(1). The responsibility in the legislation is clearly the
responsibility of the minister.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN : I know
the idea of a minister actually doing their job is pretty foreign to the people
on the other side, but we actually take it seriously. We look at the desires of
the RBGs. If it had ever been the plan that the RPGs just get whatever they
want, it would have been written in the legislation like that. We have the RPGs, we have the advice from the department
and then we have the result of the consultation, and the minister's job is then to make a determination, as set out in the legislation.
(1) The
department's biosecurity directorate manages the compliance and
governance arrangements of recognised biosecurity groups as well as the
administration of the declared pest account.
(2)–(3) I do not accept the premise of the member's
question. As the minister, I am responsible for the determination of the
rate under section 130(1) of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act
2007. Determination is informed by RBGs' proposed operational plans,
advice from DPIRD and the outcomes of consultation.
Hon Martin Aldridge interjected.
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN : I have been exercising my responsibility under
section 130(1). The responsibility in the legislation is clearly the
responsibility of the minister.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN : I know
the idea of a minister actually doing their job is pretty foreign to the people
on the other side, but we actually take it seriously. We look at the desires of
the RBGs. If it had ever been the plan that the RPGs just get whatever they
want, it would have been written in the legislation like that. We have the RPGs, we have the advice from the department
and then we have the result of the consultation, and the minister's job is then to make a determination, as set out in the legislation.
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