Biosecurity staff under increasing pressure

Shadow Minister for Primary Industries David Llewellyn believes the Liberal Government is facing a biosecurity crisis.

“Staff in biosecurity are under unprecedented pressure and the Government has allowed it to happen,” Mr Llewellyn said.

“The Liberal Government has failed to adequately fund Biosecurity Tasmania.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars of investment is being put at risk as the Government flirts with the threat of pest invasion.

“A survey of staff in July this year found 80% of respondents believed workload pressure had the potential to impact on their standard of work.

“Alarmingly, 67% said workload pressure was having a negative impact on their personal lives and 66% disagreed with the Minister when he argued morale was not at rock bottom.

“In May a departing senior employee described the organisation overseen by the Minister as an “absolute dog’s breakfast”.

“The Government has got itself into a situation where the union is now threatening industrial action during the most critical part of the year.

“For the sake of Tasmania’s biosecurity integrity, the Government must provide its staff with greater support.”
David Llewellyn MP Shadow Minister for Primary Industries