Biosecurity Act

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the biosecurity act.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: In 2020, the then minister, the member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone, released South Australia's biosecurity policy 2020 to 2023 and in addition went out to consultation regarding developing a simpler, modern and more effective legislative framework for biosecurity in South Australia. My question to the minister is: when will the biosecurity act be introduced into this parliament?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for her question. She is accurate in that the former government relatively early in its term did go out for consultation on a biosecurity act, but then it failed to progress. In fact—

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti: It was 2020.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Sorry, whichever year it was, 2020 or 2021. Then it failed to progress. I recall, actually, two years in a row, I think, the then Minister for Primary Industries, the member for Finniss, speaking publicly, including in various media outlets, that this was a priority for him, and yet we failed to see it progress.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, continue, please.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you. Upon coming to government and having the honour of becoming Minister for Primary Industries, I of course received briefs and made inquiries about the status of the proposed new biosecurity act. What became evident to me is that the consultation had in fact not been done in the robust way that I think most of us would like it to be done.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: There were a number of stakeholders who felt that they had been left out, or indeed brought into the process very late, and therefore, as I understand it, the proposed biosecurity act, which by the way I don't think we ever saw a draft from the then government—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: As I said, I don't think we ever saw a consultation draft, which one would have expected to be the next step, had that been at a stage to be able to progress. I think there are a number of issues that need to be taken into account. What I have said publicly is that I am keen for a biosecurity act to progress, but it needs to be an act that incorporates, ideally, all of the existing acts that cover biosecurity. That, of course, was the stated goal of the former government, and I think it was a valid goal. It is also, therefore, my goal, given the feedback from stakeholders.

I am progressing further consultation, to make sure that a consultation draft actually involves and includes all of the stakeholders.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed, absolutely. When consultation has been done poorly in the past—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —it is unfortunately necessary to start again.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The two leaders, I want to listen to the minister, please. Conclude your remarks, please, minister.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Thank you, Mr President. I would be happy to conclude them if those opposite would like to listen, but instead they keep interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, thank you.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: A couple of things have progressed. Of course, some of the limitations that would have been addressed in the biosecurity act are limitations in the Livestock Act. I have brought to this place amendments, which passed in this place and hopefully will pass the other place this week, in terms of the Livestock Act, which impact on our ability to react swiftly and agilely in the event of a biosecurity incursion, particularly some of the diseases we have talked about here. In the meantime, work is going on and continuing with various stakeholders in regard to what an appropriate biosecurity act will include, and I will be able to update the chamber further early in the new year.