The Tasmanian Greens today raised in Parliament the importance of ensuring that Tasmania’s quarantine budget is not slashed, given the states financial position, to protect the valuable Tasmanian primary industries sector.
Greens Primary Industry spokesperson Kim Booth MP said there are grave concerns that the quarantine budget, which protects our state and its industries from introduced pests and diseases, could be slashed to assist the State’s financial position.
“Serious concerns have been raised that quarantine services such as airline passenger checks, Kingston quarantine station, or the cut back of Quarantine Officers, could be on the cards,” Mr Booth said.
“A robust biosecurity regime that protects and prevents the incursion of exotic pests and diseases is critical for the environmental, social and economic prosperity of our island state.”
“We’ve recently seen reports of fruit fly in Tasmania, not to mention the ongoing problem of the Asian Honey Bee incursion, which could destroy $200 million of industry value as it pushes the European Honey Bee aside.”
“If we slacken the belt on biosecurity in this state, it will potentially have a detrimental affect on our primary industries, and also reduce our export credibility to interstate and overseas markets.”
“Tasmania’s rural and regional economies depend on frontline biosecurity to not only protect their crops from exotic disease and pests, but also to ensure access to overseas markets,” Mr Booth said.
