Footrot

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): Supplementary: given that the minister told us in this place that that agreement is still in place, why then are PIRSA inspectors turning up to South-East saleyards with footrot-testing equipment, and why are constituents in the South-East telling me that the surveillance by PIRSA and its inspectors has once again increased?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for her supplementary question. PIRSA staff attend saleyards as required for a range of regulatory activities, including traceability—those are the NLIS requirements.

The Hon. N.J. Centofanti interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: That includes detection of lousy sheep and also animal welfare. PIRSA staff also undertake important congregation surveillance at saleyards for emergency animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease. These activities, in terms of that surveillance, will continue at the weekly South-East sales, and any footrot that is suspected by PIRSA due to observing, for example, limping sheep—that is an animal welfare issue—and which is reported to PIRSA, will need to be investigated.

My advice is that that is entirely consistent; in fact, that is the arrangement that was agreed on back in July and August last year. Where there is an animal welfare issue that is picked up in the course of surveillance for other diseases or for other regulatory activities, it must be investigated. However, PIRSA is not going to saleyards with the express purpose of looking for footrot in the South-East saleyards.