8. SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) Link to this
to the Minister for Biosecurity
What recent announcement has he made on improving New Zealand’s biosecurity protection?
Hon DAVID CARTER (Minister for Biosecurity) Link to this
Yesterday I was pleased to launch FarmsOnLine, which is New Zealand’s first comprehensive database of rural properties for use in biosecurity responses. The $8.4 million of funding allocated to develop FarmsOnLine demonstrates the Government’s serious commitment to biosecurity readiness. This initiative will significantly improve the ability of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to rapidly respond to a biosecurity emergency. The Waiheke foot-and-mouth scare clearly demonstrated the need for this type of information to be quickly available. FarmsOnLine now delivers that need. [ Interruption]
FarmsOnLine for the first time gives the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry a comprehensive online database of rural properties, enabling instant access to information such as farm location, ownership, and land use. I encourage all farmers and lifestyle block owners to go online to see what additional information they can provide to the database. The more information the ministry has, the better it will be able to respond to a biosecurity incursion.
Hon Damien O’Connor Link to this
How can the public or the pork industry have any confidence in the Minister’s management of biosecurity threats when his ministry has decided to allow imports of uncooked pig meat from countries where the pig disease porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is endemic, even though the industry has produced a rigorous, scientifically based risk assessment that contradicts the ministry’s decision that any risk is low?
The issue referred to by the member is a decision made by the director-general. In making the decision, I understand, it was his opinion that the level of risk was so low that an import ban could not be justified on scientific grounds. My office has informed me that a judicial review is very likely on this matter. I therefore do not think it is appropriate for me to comment further.