Page 13 - National Poultry Newspaper

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Federal Government beefs up biosecurity
THE Federal Govern- ment is beefing up Aus- tralia’s biosecurity sys- tem, through allocating $137.8 million to build a smarter and stronger bio- security system to fur- ther protect Australia’s farm industries and en- vironment.
Minister for Agricul- ture and Water Resources David Littleproud said this investment is part of the Government’s com- prehensive plan to keep Australia’s industries and environment safe from invading biosecurity threats.
“A $25.2 million Bio- security Innovation Pro- gram will invest in smart new technology such as underwater sonar drones to check for pests on the underside of ships and x-ray guns to scan more passenger baggage more quickly at airports,” Min- ister Littleproud said.
“Electronic sensors in sea containers will pick up intruding insects through sound and smell.
“A further $36.5 mil- lion will be allocated for a team of biosecurity ana- lytics specialists to help tell us which passengers, countries and imports are likely to bring in pests and diseases.
“Our data and analyt- ics will also tell us when pests are extending their range in other countries, which could heighten our exposure to them.
“The Indigenous Bio- security Rangers pro- gram will be made on- going with $33.5 million over the next five years to employ 69 groups of Indigenous Rangers on our 10,000km of northern Australian coastline.
“These rangers are a frontline defence for our farming and environment – keeping out invading pests and diseases.”
The amount includes training for an additional 13 Torres Strait Islander groups.
“The Rangers access remote areas to conduct animal disease samples, insect trapping and plant
diseases monitoring and are now using drones to assist with plant surveil- lance work,” Minister Lit- tleproud said.
“We have set aside $35 million in contingency funding, ready to go if we face an incursion we need to stamp out.
“Another $7.6 million over five years will es- tablish and appoint an ongoing Environmental Biosecurity Protection Officer and staff within the Department of Agri- culture.
“This officer and his or her staff would prepare plans and invest in pro- jects to keep out environ- mental threats including the Asian black spined toad, which is similar to the cane toad.
“Pests and diseases have an enormous environmen- tal impact.”
All this comes on top of the $145.9 million of new funding allocated to bio- security investment over five years in the recent budget, which included $107.8 million for:
• Enhanced assurance and verification activities to enhance enforcement of our strict standards;
•Monitoring pests and diseases overseas so we can reduce the risk of them getting to Australia;
• More surveillance, monitoring and response around ports;
• Keeping our vaccine bank ready for the risk of foot and mouth disease; and
• Funding the Australian Animal Health Laborato- ry and its vital testing for exotic pests and diseases.
“We also allocated $18.1 million for more boots on the ground at our inter- national ports over five years, with about 35 ex- tra officers inspecting passengers’ baggage and performing other tasks,” Minister Littleproud said.
“I look forward to work- ing with my state and territory counterparts to finalise a new Intergov- ernmental Agreement on Biosecurity by late-2018.”
POULTRY INDUSTRY CHARITY GOLF DAY
Join us at BROOKWATER GOLF CLUB
on Friday 24th August from 11am as a
PLAYER
We invite you to become a player at this year s Poultry
Industry Golf Day raising funds for the Black Dog Institute.
This one day spectacular is jam packed with excitement including lunch, 18 hole golf tournament, promotional holes, a selection of high quality prizes and charity auctions.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
For more information contact Ruby Gough | Ruby@santrev.com.au | 1300 815 888
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud.
www.poultrynews.com.au
National Poultry Newspaper, August 2018 – Page 13