Axe Hangs Over Flinders Island State Funded Vet & Quarantine Position

The Greens are calling on the Primary Industries Minister, Jeremy Rockliff, to clarify concerns that the government intends to cut the state-funded Flinders Island Government Vet and Quarantine position from the end of June this year.

“Minister Rockliff’s evasion and weasel-words when asked to guarantee that the current state-funded Flinders Island Vet and quarantine position is safe, is only fuelling concerns the position is to be axed,” Greens Leader and Member for Bass Kim Booth MP said.

“When locals write to the Minister seeking clarity over the service’s future, the specific question about the fate of this specific position remains unanswered.”

“A concerned member of the public provided the Greens with a copy of the Minister’s written response to their query, which remains silent over the vet position while stating that there are “no plans to reduce biosecurity services” on the island.”

“When I specifically challenged the Minister in parliament to clarify the matter today, Mr Rockliff refused to confirm that the vet position would remain, instead resorting to weasel words about resourcing.”
“Well Minister, the Islanders smell a rat.”

“They want a straight answer to their specific question. Will the Minister guarantee that the state-funded government vet and quarantine position based on Flinders Island will remain funded beyond June this year?”

“Should this position be axed, local farmers and the community will all be affected, with stock and domestic pets potentially suffering not due to owner neglect, but because of the removal of an accessible service.”

“Although there is a private practice serving the island, it cannot be expected to cater for 365 days per year, and cannot be expected to deal with serious biosecurity and quarantine responsibilities.”

“This position should be regarded by government as a crucial frontline biosecurity measure.”

“It is a government responsibility to provide such frontline biosecurity and quarantine surveillance to protect Flinders Island from exotic pests and diseases, the introduction of which could decimate the local island economy and environment.”

“The Greens are calling on the Minister to urgently clarify the status of this crucial the state-funded vet position on Flinders Island,” Mr Booth said.

DOWNLOAD: Minister Rockliff’s letter in response to Constituent inquiry; 6 March 2015 (name withheld for privacy reasons):

Mar17_Ministerial_Letter_re_Flinders_Island_Vet_K_Booth_ATTACH.pdf
Kim Booth MP | Greens Leader