In what may come as a relief to many, the pre-election media blackout means I can’t talk about tomorrow’s elections. So I have turned my mind to something that all Tasmanians need to be very concerned about.
TFGA was appalled to learn recently that Australia’s frontline defence against invasive plant and animal diseases is the latest operation to be hit by federal government cutbacks.
Staff cuts have already been implemented at the vital Border Compliance Division, in a move that could strike at the heart of Australia’s image as a ”clean, green” food-producing nation. The Border Compliance Division works with other federal agencies, and state and territory authorities, and industry to manage Australia’s biosecurity system to combat the threat posed by exotic pests and disease.
There are rumours that there may be further cuts proposed in regional biosecurity services throughout Australia.
We understand that this may include an end to the quarantine service agreement between the national biosecurity services and the state government of Tasmania, diminishing the island’s biosecurity protection.
If this is true, it means the loss of five or six quarantine jobs, deemed to be unnecessary because the state no longer has direct international shipping links and even though international cruise liners are regular callers.
Any such move would threaten our already stressed farming sector. The costs of managing new and serious pests and diseases would push already high input costs even higher; and may even drive some farmers out of business.
Importantly, too, it would pose a serious risk to our access to major world markets. Because we are an island, because we are free of fruit fly, for instance, we have an international reputation for high quality, safe produce. It is our major marketing edge, our key point of difference, over our competitors plagued with such major pests and diseases.
Fire blight in apples and ornamental plants from the US and NZ; potato cyst nematode/zebra chip in potatoes, again from the US and NZ); and fruit fly from many areas on the Australian mainland are high on the list of risky imports. As concerning, but for different reasons, is the exotic disease Myrtle Rust which has already spread from its point of origin into Victoria. Myrtle Rust could rapidly devastate many of our native and garden plant species if (or when) it were to jump Bass Strait.
The risk of substantial loss of income and markets from incursion of exotic and Australian mainland diseases in Tasmania has never been greater. Add to that the environmental risk of Myrtle Rust, and all Tasmanians should be up in arms.
These job losses strike at Australia’s frontline defences against introduced plants and diseases. They’re basically cutting frontline services. This is the worst possible place to be cutting.
The Border Compliance Division is vital in protecting the security of Australia’s food supply as well as its exports. Fewer hands on deck means the staff left are increasingly being tied up with bureaucracy. Our clean, green, safe image as a provider of food to the world is of critical importance and these cuts, of course, will put that reputation at risk.
Many in industry believe that, as there’s a push for stronger trade with foreign countries, biosecurity is taking a back seat. We’re also concerned that there are moves to weaken our biosecurity protections as bargaining chips in free trade agreements.
The more we allow trade, the more risks we face from the things we are bringing into this country. There are controls in place to manage the risks posed by the ever-increasing rate of imported fresh fruit, vegetables and other produce. Imports are fumigated or they’re supposed to come from places certified free from particular pests that we’re concerned about. However, no system is infallible – and the consequences don’t bear thinking about.
This is a threat to the food that we consume ourselves – and it’s also an enormous threat to our export income. We export two-thirds of what we grow in this country. If we are to maximise the benefits presented by what experts are calling ‘the dining boom’ in Asia, we need to maintain that safe, clean and green image.
In late 2008, the Australian Government released the independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements by a panel chaired by Mr Roger Beale AO.
The Beale review concluded that Australia’s biosecurity system is good—often the envy of other countries—but far from perfect. It recommended significant changes to improve the system’s ability to deal with changing and increasing biosecurity risks. Yet since that time, little has been done to implement these important recommendations.
Biosecurity is critical to our success. All governments must commit to implementing the recommendations of the Beale report and to maintaining border vigilance.
TFGA CEO Jan Davis’ Tasmanian Country column today
