12. Hon JIM ANDERTON (Leader—Progressive) Link to this
to the Minister for Biosecurity
Has he received any reports on cuts to staff positions at MAF Biosecurity New Zealand; if so, how will these actions improve New Zealand’s biosecurity?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister for Biosecurity) Link to this
Yes, I have received reports, and those reports made it clear that unless action was taken by Biosecurity New Zealand, it would be facing accumulated deficits of $10 million in its cost-recovery operations. This was due to a major fall in trade associated with the recession. The steps being taken will maintain existing levels of biosecurity, and will ensure that Biosecurity New Zealand does not have to divert funding from vital front-line operations to cover this deficit.
Can the Minister give a guarantee that no new biosecurity incursion will result from cutting 60 front-line border biosecurity jobs; if he cannot give such a guarantee, what will the cost to New Zealand be of a single biosecurity incursion as a result of front-line border control staff being cut?
I can give an assurance that I am comfortable that any reductions in staff numbers associated with the decline of trade occurring at the borders will not endanger our borders and result in incursions. I point out to the previous Minister that I as Minister for Biosecurity have a substantially better record in regard to incursions than that Minister ever had.
Dr Cam CalderI have seen claims from Mr Anderton and from Labour’s fresh face, Mr O’Connor, that the review is a result of funding—
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you anticipate what I will say?
Mr SPEAKERI think I can anticipate it. I should alert the Minister—[ Interruption] I am on my feet, and a point of order has been raised. Ministers must not use that kind of language when referring to other members of this House.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have taken absolutely no offence at that.
I have seen claims from both Mr Anderton and Mr O’Connor that the review is a result of the funding in this year’s Budget. That is totally untrue, and I can best direct the House to advice given by a former Minister for Biosecurity, when asked about a similar issue: “… the member clearly has no understanding of the difference between one-off incursion expenditure … and the baseline expenditure … Someone on the front bench who has been in a Cabinet of any description … should take the member aside … and teach him a lesson on Government accounting.” That very sound advice came from one Jim Anderton himself.
Has the Minister seen the comment of National’s biosecurity spokesperson when in Opposition that the biggest threat to our economy is a biosecurity incursion, and Federated Farmers’ comment that “being disease-free is New Zealand’s real trump card when it comes to market access.”; what will he tell them when there is a biosecurity incursion as a result of a cut in front-line border staffing?
There has been absolutely no cut to baseline biosecurity funding. In fact, it has been increased. The $1.9 million reduction to which the member is referring has come about because Biosecurity New Zealand has successfully eradicated incursions like that of the saltmarsh mosquito, which occurred under the previous Minister’s watch.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
Does the Minister consider that the number of biosecurity incursions that have occurred in the last few years to be too many; if so, how does he think his cut of 60 skilled and competent staff will reduce incursions in the future?
I totally agree that the number of incursions that have occurred in the last few years is totally unacceptable. I certainly hope we do not see that pattern continuing under this Government. I point out to that member that the cost of this particular activity is recovered at the border. That member knows full well—because he was told at the select committee—that trade volumes are down 13 percent and the number of imported cars is down by 70,000. Those costs have to be addressed. The member might advocate that they be passed on to current importers; I think that would be totally unfair.
A point of order has been called and a member loudly interjects. I ask members to pay a little more attention to what is going on.
I seek leave to table an inch-thick, 98-page dossier of comments demanding that New Zealand’s front-line border biosecurity protections be strengthened, not cut—all from the National Party’s biosecurity spokesperson in Opposition, Shane Ardern.