ANIMAL HEALTH BIOSECURITY FEE AND PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION CODE

In reply to Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (28 October 2010).

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Northern Suburbs): Biosecurity SA commenced discussion about mandating Property Identification Codes (PICs) with an associated fee with the chairs of my Ministerial livestock advisory groups covering sheep, cattle, horses, goats, pigs, deer and alpacas and a representative from the South Australian Farmers Federation at a meeting on 20 August 2010, before the 2010-11 budget was presented.

Following the presentation of the budget in September 2010, which included revenue and savings targets for the Biosecurity SA Animal Health program and the PIC registration system, a second meeting was held on 24 September 2010. At this meeting Biosecurity SA informed the livestock industry and horse community representatives about the government's decision and Biosecurity SA proposals for achieving the budget targets, which included specifying the proposed PIC fee to recover costs of the PIC system and implementing a Biosecurity SA sought feedback on how the proposed Biosecurity and PIC fees could be best implemented.

Delays in the process to draft a Bill to amend the Livestock Act 1997 to enable application of the Biosecurity fee provided an opportunity for further discussion with representatives and a third meeting was held on 25 October 2010 about implementing the mandatory PIC system, the PIC fee and the Biosecurity fee. Further discussions will be held by Biosecurity SA prior to a Bill being presented to Parliament.