Avian Influenza

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (15:09): Supplementary question arising from the original answer: how many dedicated staff are ready and available for a response?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:10): We have a response team that can deal with various exotic animal diseases and of course plant diseases. Fortunately, the various investments that we have made, including by this government into emergency animal diseases, mean that there is the opportunity for those personnel and those experts to respond to various types, whether it be bird flu, whether it be foot-and-mouth disease if that were to come to Australia, or whether it be other exotic diseases. Investment in that sort of expertise is incredibly important. We have made sure that there is more capacity in our regional areas as well as in specialised areas.