❓ Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding funding schemes for biosecurity, specifically concerning broadacre farmers paying both industry levies and declared pest rates, and the ongoing regulation of skeleton weed despite past recommendations to wind down its program.
AnsweredQoN 1377Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BIOSECURITY AND AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT ACT —RECOGNISED
BIOSECURITY GROUPS
1377. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the recognised
biosecurity groups and industry funding schemes under the Biosecurity and
Agriculture Management Act 2007.
(1) Will the
minister please advise why broadacre farmers in the agricultural area who are
already making contributions to their relevant industry funding schemes have to
now pay a declared pest rate?
(2) Is the
minister aware that in 2009 an independent review panel recommended that the
skeleton weed program should be wound down over a three‑year period, with
skeleton weed becoming a fully grower‑managed weed matter by the end of
that period?
(3) If yes to
(2), why is skeleton weed regulated under the Biosecurity and Agriculture
Management Industry Funding Scheme (Grains) Regulations 2010?
BIOSECURITY GROUPS
1377. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the recognised
biosecurity groups and industry funding schemes under the Biosecurity and
Agriculture Management Act 2007.
(1) Will the
minister please advise why broadacre farmers in the agricultural area who are
already making contributions to their relevant industry funding schemes have to
now pay a declared pest rate?
(2) Is the
minister aware that in 2009 an independent review panel recommended that the
skeleton weed program should be wound down over a three‑year period, with
skeleton weed becoming a fully grower‑managed weed matter by the end of
that period?
(3) If yes to
(2), why is skeleton weed regulated under the Biosecurity and Agriculture
Management Industry Funding Scheme (Grains) Regulations 2010?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) A production‑based levy is applied
for industry funding schemes for control of pests and diseases identified as a priority
to industry. Separately, recognised biosecurity groups can request the minister
to determine a declared pest rate for their prescribed area. This occurs with
broad consultation. The rate is matched by the state government. The production
levy and the declared pest rate are for separate purposes.
(2) Yes. However, more recently, the
committee of the grains, seeds and hay industry funding scheme undertook a grower
survey to determine the industry position for the future of the eradication
program. This substantially supported continuation of the current scheme.
(3) Skeleton weed is a declared pest under
the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007. This provides regulatory
capacity to support the industry‑based eradication program.
(1) A production‑based levy is applied
for industry funding schemes for control of pests and diseases identified as a priority
to industry. Separately, recognised biosecurity groups can request the minister
to determine a declared pest rate for their prescribed area. This occurs with
broad consultation. The rate is matched by the state government. The production
levy and the declared pest rate are for separate purposes.
(2) Yes. However, more recently, the
committee of the grains, seeds and hay industry funding scheme undertook a grower
survey to determine the industry position for the future of the eradication
program. This substantially supported continuation of the current scheme.
(3) Skeleton weed is a declared pest under
the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007. This provides regulatory
capacity to support the industry‑based eradication program.
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