Hon. Moermond questions the effectiveness of volunteer biosecurity groups compared to regional agricultural departments in controlling pests and weeds, and seeks information on government efforts to manage pests and weeds on crown land. The Minister clarifies the continued presence of regional DPIRD offices and emphasises landholder responsibility.

AnsweredQoN 1141Legislative Council
Asked
21 September 2023
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

BIOSECURITY — DECLARED PESTS AND WEEDS
1141. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the amendment of the Biosecurity and Agriculture
Management Act 2007 in 2016.
(1) Has the move to do away with regional agricultural
departments in favour of volunteer regional biosecurity groups been
effective in controlling pests and weeds?
(2) What is the government doing to control the spread of
pests and weeds on crown land?
The PRESIDENT : It was a rather broad question.

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) The premise of the question is incorrect. The Department
of Primary Industries and Regional Development has 25 regional offices,
12 research and aquaculture facilities and four quarantine checkpoint
locations. The department employs over 1 790 FTE, with over 35 per cent of
staff based in regional offices.
(2) Under the
Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007, individual landholders and
land managers are responsible for the control of widespread and established
declared pests on their land.

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