Legislative Council, Tuesday 18 October 2022

Ms FORREST question to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRIES and WATER, Ms PALMER

Regarding biosecurity on King Island and the lack of a truck wash down facility:

(1) How is biosecurity being managed to protect King Island?

(2) Where does the minister believe the most effective location for a truck wash down facility should be located to protect biosecurity on King Island?

(3) If this is best located in Victoria, will the Government consider working with the Victorian government to establish a washdown facility at the Victorian port to reduce the risks associated with cattle trailers returning to the island without being washed down?

ANSWER

I thank the member for the question.

(1) King Island is currently staffed with two full-time biosecurity officers. These officers have wide-ranging responsibilities that help to protect the island and manage biosecurity concerns. That includes managing weeds and other invasive pests, checking fruit fly traps, investigating animal welfare matters, working with the community to deliver sound biosecurity outcomes and inspecting arriving passengers and freight to prevent any biosecurity risk material. The officers also implement local measures for Biosecurity Tasmania's Foot and Mouth Disease Pilot Program including engaging with travellers who have recently visited Indonesia and deploying a sanitisation foot mat at the King Island Airport.

(2) In the case of potential livestock transport and truck wash down facilities, the location of such infrastructure on King Island or elsewhere, is determined on a case by case basis, taking into account factors such as the need to integrate the facility into the normal operations of the livestock transport sector, the availability of supporting utilities and the identification of a proponent to own, operate and maintain the facility. The Cradle Coast Authority engaged the consultants, pitt&sherry, to provide advice on the demand, nature and location of the facilities on King Island, at the port of Stanley, and at Burnie and Devonport. These sites are being investigated under a Commonwealth-funded project led by the Cradle Coast Authority.

In the case of wash down facilities for containerised freight or equipment or machinery transported to King Island, Biosecurity Tasmania continues to engage with TasPorts and transport companies to ensure that hygiene requirements are being met.

(3) Biosecurity activity currently occurs across the biosecurity spectrum. This includes: pre-border activities such as Victorian clearance of TT-Line vehicles heading to Tasmania, through to border and post-border biosecurity activities that help protect Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to work with, and cooperate with other jurisdictions, other levels of government, industry and the community across this biosecurity spectrum. Our consideration of biosecurity matters on King Island is consistent with this approach.