❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding the government's biosecurity response, particularly concerning foot-and-mouth disease and the biosecurity response centre. The Premier deflects blame, citing the previous government's actions in gutting the Department of Agriculture.
AnsweredQoN 488Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BIOSECURITY RESPONSE
CENTRE
488. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the wake of ongoing
biosecurity threats including the discovery of Indonesian fishing boats hiding
in mangroves at Kuri Bay; the Premier's belated interest in biosecurity
culminating in the announcement of a biosecurity
response centre, which is now a hasty office fit-out as opposed to the
previously promised $320 million purpose-built facility, and his
comments in June that we have ''a vast coastline and it is difficult to
have a copper in every bay''.
(1) Given the
presence of foot-and-mouth disease on our doorstep in Indonesia, why did it
take so long for the government to take this threat seriously?
(2) Has the Premier met with the Prime Minister to
discuss the need for increased protection for our vast coastline?
(3) At what point did the Premier
work out that a response to these threats was urgent?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members! We had a few interjections during question time, which reminds me we
did miss the member for Landsdale earlier in the week.
Leader
of the Opposition, some of the interjections were because the preamble was very
long. I am certainly allowing the question; I just note for the future
that the preamble was a little long, especially when followed by what were
quite long questions, as well.
CENTRE
488. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the wake of ongoing
biosecurity threats including the discovery of Indonesian fishing boats hiding
in mangroves at Kuri Bay; the Premier's belated interest in biosecurity
culminating in the announcement of a biosecurity
response centre, which is now a hasty office fit-out as opposed to the
previously promised $320 million purpose-built facility, and his
comments in June that we have ''a vast coastline and it is difficult to
have a copper in every bay''.
(1) Given the
presence of foot-and-mouth disease on our doorstep in Indonesia, why did it
take so long for the government to take this threat seriously?
(2) Has the Premier met with the Prime Minister to
discuss the need for increased protection for our vast coastline?
(3) At what point did the Premier
work out that a response to these threats was urgent?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members! We had a few interjections during question time, which reminds me we
did miss the member for Landsdale earlier in the week.
Leader
of the Opposition, some of the interjections were because the preamble was very
long. I am certainly allowing the question; I just note for the future
that the preamble was a little long, especially when followed by what were
quite long questions, as well.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the member for the question. One of the reasons we have a biosecurity
threat in Western Australia is because members opposite, when they were in
government and I think that Hon Terry Redman was the Minister for Agriculture
and Food, gutted the department of agriculture. They tore out the workforce,
corporate knowledge and historical experience. That department was essentially
ruined after they had finished with it. If
the member is concerned about the lack of capacity in the WA department of
agriculture , or the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development, as it is now referred to, he should look no further than his own
colleagues and policies.
We have, firstly under the great work
of Hon Alannah MacTiernan and now under the terrific work of Hon Jackie Jarvis,
rebuilt DPIRD to start making sure that we have that capacity around research
and proactive policies and making sure that our agricultural industries are
world leading. Obviously, we want biosecurity to be a high priority in Western Australia.
The agricultural and related agrifood industries are front and centre of our
economy, and many people rely on the jobs that they create.
When we see things such as threats to
our biosecurity, of course it is a concern, which is a reason we are rebuilding
the department to make sure that we have the capability. We will continue to
work with the commonwealth to ensure that we keep Western Australia safe from
exotic diseases and pests, and make sure that our industries remain safe, as
well, but it is no thanks to members opposite and the work they did
historically to gut the department.
thank the member for the question. One of the reasons we have a biosecurity
threat in Western Australia is because members opposite, when they were in
government and I think that Hon Terry Redman was the Minister for Agriculture
and Food, gutted the department of agriculture. They tore out the workforce,
corporate knowledge and historical experience. That department was essentially
ruined after they had finished with it. If
the member is concerned about the lack of capacity in the WA department of
agriculture , or the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development, as it is now referred to, he should look no further than his own
colleagues and policies.
We have, firstly under the great work
of Hon Alannah MacTiernan and now under the terrific work of Hon Jackie Jarvis,
rebuilt DPIRD to start making sure that we have that capacity around research
and proactive policies and making sure that our agricultural industries are
world leading. Obviously, we want biosecurity to be a high priority in Western Australia.
The agricultural and related agrifood industries are front and centre of our
economy, and many people rely on the jobs that they create.
When we see things such as threats to
our biosecurity, of course it is a concern, which is a reason we are rebuilding
the department to make sure that we have the capability. We will continue to
work with the commonwealth to ensure that we keep Western Australia safe from
exotic diseases and pests, and make sure that our industries remain safe, as
well, but it is no thanks to members opposite and the work they did
historically to gut the department.
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