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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-05-15 Daily Xml
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BIOSECURITY

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister for primary industries a question regarding biosecurity recovery costs.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: One of the first jobs that minister Gago did when she became primary industries minister was to implement the Mutton review due to the serious concerns from primary industry animal husbandrists and also from the horse industry regarding full cost recovery. My questions to the minister regarding that review are:

1. Has the Mutton review been completed by the round table?

2. If it has, is the minister going to make the document public and put it out for further public comment?

3. Is the minister now ruling out full cost recovery?

4. Are there any legislative requirements regarding the minister's intentions about this matter and, if so, when will they be tabled in the council?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions and his ongoing interest in this particular area. Indeed, the South Australian government does have a policy of cost recovery which we attempt to put in place wherever we can.

We attempted to introduce it into the livestock industry. It has been present in our fisheries now for a number of years, and other sectors where it is well established. However, we were not able to do that; we were unable to progress the legislation through this place. There were also issues raised by the industry so I took steps to work with the industry on a position that we could land on. Part of that process was to request Dennis Mutton and a small group of industry leaders to put together a position paper, if you like, for government to consider. They did that but I cannot give you the exact date it was handed to me; it was some time ago. I have had a look at that and the government has responded to that report.

My understanding is that both documents have been on the website for a considerable amount of time. I am sure my trusty advisers will let me know if that is not the case. It was quite some time ago but I believe both documents are on the website and have been for some time. Yes, I have been advised they are both online and have been for some time.

I do not have the government's response here in front of me but the basic thrust of it was that the Mutton review did a very good job. It basically said they would prefer not to have any cost recovery imposts but then looked at a number of things that perhaps the industry could further consider. The government acknowledged those issues and has agreed at this point in time not to pursue cost recovery. However, we have said that we will continue to engage with the industry to work towards a better informed understanding around the issues to see if we can get the industry to come to an agreed position.

In effect, we do not have any cost recovery proposal before us either in legislative form or otherwise, other than, as I said, to discuss those matters that were raised in the Mutton review and engage in dialogue with the industry. At this point in time there is no legislation that we have planned to pursue cost recovery in the area of livestock. However, we will continue to engage with the industry around the issues that have been identified.

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