The Hodgman Liberal Government is investing an additional $2 million to increase frontline biosecurity with the addition of detector dog teams to better protect our island.
This State Budget initiative will ensure our world-class agriculture and seafood sectors are better protected, and support jobs across our state.
Biosecurity Tasmania will now, for the first time, have the capacity to target 100 per cent of flights at the Launceston and Hobart airports with a detector dog team.
This investment will also increase the presence of detector dog teams at our regional airports, international cruise vessel arrivals, the TT Line depot, cargo ports and mail distribution centres.
This will increase the number of detector dogs and handlers from six teams to nine and better protect our island’s reputation for producing premium produce.
Detector dogs are the most effective and efficient way to prevent biosecurity threats entering our state. These highly trained dogs and specialist handlers are a proven highly visible deterrent and can detect and stop high risk material that may otherwise enter our state.
Never before has our biosecurity been so important with a record number of visitors travelling to Tasmania, as well as increasing trade, particularly with China following the recent Free Trade Agreement.
The $2 million investment over the forward estimates is in addition to our commitment of $900,000 to strengthen Tasmania’s biosecurity protection, which began rolling out a year ago.
Tasmania is world renowned for producing premium and safe produce. Biosecurity underpins our island brand and our $1.8 billion agricultural and seafood industries, and the $520 million in food exports annually.
This investment in frontline biosecurity will certainly enhance our capability to protect our primary industries, natural environment and social amenity from risks, and grow jobs in the sector.
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Primary Industries and Water
