Question Time

Exotic Animal Diseases

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): My questions are to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, regarding exotic animal diseases.

1. Is the minister confident that her department is sufficiently resourced to participate in preparedness activities relating to foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease?

2. Is the minister confident that her department is sufficiently resourced to participate in surveillance activities relating to foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for her question. She has mentioned two diseases, which of course have had increased risk profiles in recent months and indeed over the last couple of years. Many, many risks have been increasing for various emergency animal diseases. It's imperative that as a nation and as a state we have strong and resilient biosecurity systems to effectively prevent, prepare and respond to these threats. EAD prevention and early detection are core priorities for PIRSA, in addition to being prepared to respond to these diseases should they be detected in Australia.

PIRSA Biosecurity, animal health division, delivers disease surveillance programs to enhance SA's ability to detect and respond to disease threats of significant community, economic and public health importance. PIRSA is continuing to work closely with commonwealth, state and territory departments, Animal Health Australia, state and national peak industry bodies to continually improve Australia's biosecurity systems to address evolving threats.

We are very happy with the continual engagement with industry as well as the other jurisdictions as we continue to progress our preparedness activities, which of course will be ongoing, because different threats and threat levels change over time. That includes because of different climatic events or trends as well as dynamic markets and geopolitical issues that result in food security issues, amongst others, as well as changes in the amount of international travel, international trade and so on.

As an ongoing program, there has been increased focus, of course, on emergency animal diseases, including the two specific ones that the honourable member has mentioned. We will continue with that work.