Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens’ Primary Industries spokesperson
The Minister for Primary Industries, Jeremy Rockliff, confirmed today in question time, that after four years and lengthy consultation, promised Biosecurity legislation would not be tabled in this term of government.
Protecting Tasmania’s clean, green image is critical to the future of our agricultural sector.
The draft legislation has been closed to submissions since June this year, giving ample time to table the final Bill. Yet Minister Rockliff has failed to deliver.
There is legitimate suspicion that the failure to eradicate blueberry rust cast a pall over biosecurity in Tasmania and the Liberals have chosen not to bring their legislation to parliament in fear of highlighting this issue.
By failing to introduce this key piece of legislation, essential to protecting the island’s brand, the Liberals have failed primary producers and all those who rely on Tasmania’s clean and green reputation.
Farmers, primary producers and peak agricultural bodies have every reason to feel that this Liberal Government has failed to protect Tasmania’s biosecurity.