❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the suspension of diagnostic services, the new State Biosecurity Centre, staff relocation, and asbestos exposure at DPIRD South Perth. The Minister provides updates on these issues, noting ongoing negotiations and alternative arrangements.
AnsweredQoN 1182Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
STATE BIOSECURITY CENTRE
1182. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the June 2024 suspension
of vital agricultural diagnostic and laboratory services at the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, and the minister's
media statement of 8 August 2024 on the commissioning of a new state
biosecurity centre.
(1) What location has been selected
for the new state biosecurity centre?
(2) What is the fit-out status of
the new centre, and is it partially or fully operational?
(3) How are high
priority samples from veterinarians and agronomists being triaged through DPIRD
and what are the implications in sample timeframe assessment?
(4) Are any staff
currently physically working at the South Perth facility; and, if so, how many
and in what work capacity?
(5) Where have
both technical and non-technical staff from the Australian Export Grains
Innovation Centre that operated within DPIRD's South Perth facility
been relocated to and at what cost?
(6) Has medical
testing and assessment of all staff exposed to asbestos at DPIRD South Perth
been undertaken; and, if so, by whom and on what dates?
1182. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the June 2024 suspension
of vital agricultural diagnostic and laboratory services at the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, and the minister's
media statement of 8 August 2024 on the commissioning of a new state
biosecurity centre.
(1) What location has been selected
for the new state biosecurity centre?
(2) What is the fit-out status of
the new centre, and is it partially or fully operational?
(3) How are high
priority samples from veterinarians and agronomists being triaged through DPIRD
and what are the implications in sample timeframe assessment?
(4) Are any staff
currently physically working at the South Perth facility; and, if so, how many
and in what work capacity?
(5) Where have
both technical and non-technical staff from the Australian Export Grains
Innovation Centre that operated within DPIRD's South Perth facility
been relocated to and at what cost?
(6) Has medical
testing and assessment of all staff exposed to asbestos at DPIRD South Perth
been undertaken; and, if so, by whom and on what dates?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
location for the State Biosecurity Response Centre is subject to commercial
negotiations and an announcement on the location is expected shortly.
(3) The
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's diagnostic
and laboratory service continues to work directly with clients to receive
priority samples, undertake tests directly when possible and facilitate testing
through other federal and state-accredited testing providers when required.
(4) A small
number of staff are working onsite under approved access protocols.
(5) The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre—AEGIC—has
entered into a commercial lease in Subiaco for its Perth-based office
staff. AEGIC's Perth-based technical operations are operating out of
several locations, including the Sustainable Innovative Food Technology centre—SIFT.
(6) DPIRD has actively consulted with occupational
physicians, sourced via the WorkCover WA register of approved permanent
impairment assessors and facilitated multiple information and awareness-raising
sessions for staff, as well as providing the details of applicable health
providers to staff.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
location for the State Biosecurity Response Centre is subject to commercial
negotiations and an announcement on the location is expected shortly.
(3) The
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's diagnostic
and laboratory service continues to work directly with clients to receive
priority samples, undertake tests directly when possible and facilitate testing
through other federal and state-accredited testing providers when required.
(4) A small
number of staff are working onsite under approved access protocols.
(5) The Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre—AEGIC—has
entered into a commercial lease in Subiaco for its Perth-based office
staff. AEGIC's Perth-based technical operations are operating out of
several locations, including the Sustainable Innovative Food Technology centre—SIFT.
(6) DPIRD has actively consulted with occupational
physicians, sourced via the WorkCover WA register of approved permanent
impairment assessors and facilitated multiple information and awareness-raising
sessions for staff, as well as providing the details of applicable health
providers to staff.
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