The Hon. Nicola Centofanti, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries (SA), Media Release, 24 June 2024
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven has been slammed for failing to stay across key changes to South Australian biosecurity measures which have resulted in a downgrade of safety initiatives.
The Albanese Labor Government removed sanitation mats from key international airports around the nation, including Adelaide Airport, on June 5 claiming Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) numbers in Southeast Asia had lowered.
But in a shock admission, Clare Scriven said she only became aware of the significant change on June 18 – totally oblivious that the mats has been removed.
This is despite the school holiday period looming at a time when Bali – a prime tourist destination due to its dry season – is set to be a popular travel choice.
Farmers have reported in the recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey that biosecurity is a major ongoing concern to their operations.
“I have become aware only today of the removal of the sanitation mats. It is a federal decision. I understand it’s to do with the fact that the numbers of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia have stabilised. However, that’s the extent of the information I have at the moment. It is a federal matter. I am happy to seek additional information from my department,” Clare Scriven said during Question Time on Tuesday.
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Dr Nicola Centofanti, said Clare Scriven’s dismissive nature and lack of visibility on serious issues was becoming a concerning talking point for Primary Industries leaders.
Dr Centofanti – who published a Letter to the Editor signalling her concerns around the changes last Thursday – said Clare Scriven’s lack of engagement on this issue shows she is “constantly asleep at the wheel”.
“How does Clare Scriven only become aware of these significant changes to biosecurity protocols here in South Australia a whole week after the Shadow Minister is informed? Does she not connect with industry? Why is she so out of the loop?” Dr Centofanti said.
“South Australia’s primary industries and agribusiness sector, worth $18.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2022-23 alone, relies on robust biosecurity. Farmers must have the confidence that both State and Federal Labor Governments are remaining vigilant and alert.
“Our state is currently fighting biosecurity incursions on multiple fronts. We have several fruit fly outbreaks, we have seen the presence of Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis in the South East and there are significant issues with varroa mite and avian influenza. We must ensure these diseases do not become endemic in our state.
“We also must ensure that we continue to do everything we can in a practical sense to minimise the risk of FMD entering our country. Sanitation mats are cheap, simple and easy to implement. Why remove an easy layer of biosecurity and a frontline defence for our farmers?
“Clare Scriven’s federal colleagues are making decisions that have the potential to impact biosecurity and farmers here in South Australia and the Minister, who is supposed to protect primary industries in our state, is not paying any attention.”
“To add insult to injury, the Albanese Government still intends to slug our farmers with a Biosecurity Protection Levy – a tax – to screen imported goods into Australia yet in the same breath they are removing an important measure in the first line of defence against exotic disease which is not particularly costly nor onerous to implement. This is yet another kick in the guts to farmers and regional communities.
“State and Federal Labor Governments owe an explanation to South Australian farmers. We need Clare Scriven to show some leadership on this.”
When asked in the Chamber if Clare Scriven was willing to contact her federal colleagues on this issue, she indicated that she would, but acknowledged that so far, she had failed to do so.
