10. Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Biosecurity
Does he have confidence in his ministry’s ability to protect New Zealand against biosecurity risks?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister for Biosecurity) Link to this
Generally speaking, yes, particularly when we consider the enormity of the task ahead of us in protecting New Zealand’s biodiversity and biosecurity.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
Why did he reassure this House just last year that his Government’s policies would “significantly strengthen and enhance our biosecurity system”, when last week an independent report stated there were 29 deficiencies in the biosecurity processing of imported raw pig meat, including the import risk assessment?
The issue to which the member is referring is the import health standards for pork imports into this country. We received, quite recently, a very substantial report—67 pages—which is detailed and wants further work before we conclude. I am intent on solving this issue with a lasting solution. This is something that started before 2005, to which the previous Government simply turned its back. I want to achieve a way we can meet our obligations by demanding good access for exports and allowing fair importation into New Zealand, but at the same time balancing the need to protect New Zealand’s biosecurity.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
Given that it is the second time that an independent review panel has found his department’s import safety risk assessment to be deficient, in order to protect New Zealand will the Minister suspend all imports of raw pork products—as happened with bee product imports from Australia—until all the panel’s recommendations have been addressed; if not, why not?
As I said to the member, we will analyse this very complicated report with care. We have, as of the end of last year, established 737 import health standards without difficulty. We have two challenges, which we inherited from the previous Labour Government, concerning the importation of honey and pork products, and I will consider them with care, accepting advice from my biosecurity officials.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
Given the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s recent advisory that Governments undertake “re-examination of possible routes of entry and measures to reinforce controls,” and “more rigorous checks at ports and airports.” in order to protect against a heightened threat of foot-and-mouth disease, will he reinstate the 56 front-line biosecurity staff whom he sacked last year?
The first point I make to that member is there has been no cut to Government funding at the front line, whatsoever. As soon as we were aware of notified foot-and-mouth outbreaks in both Japan and Korea, we heightened awareness at the border and we increased our profiling of visitors coming through from those countries. But the point I think Mr O’Connor needs to be aware of is that our biosecurity should not respond to incursions that occur in Asia just when they occur, because, frankly, foot-and-mouth is prevalent throughout that continent at all times. Our systems at the border need to be prepared to manage that risk, not only when we are notified, but on the assumption that foot-and-mouth is in China, Japan, and Korea at all times.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
I seek leave to table two documents. The first is a report of the independent review panel on the provisional import health standards for pig meat and pig meat products into New Zealand.
Mr SPEAKERHon Damien O’Connor Link to this
The second is a document of notification for importers of bee products from Australia. It is an import health standard that advises the industry that it can no longer import bee products from Australia.