Barnaby Joyce passed up a golden opportunity to reassure Australia’s agriculture sector that biosecurity will remain within the Department of Agriculture where it belongs.
During Question Time I gave the Minister an opportunity to argue the case for retaining biosecurity within his portfolio and department.
He declined the invitation.
Biosecurity goes to the heart of both our own food security and our export future.
Our safe, clean, green food image is what provides us with our export competitiveness.
Australian agriculture has a wonderful opportunity to capitalise on the growing food demand in Asia but success will only come if the integrity of our biosecurity remains intact.
Biosecurity is an area which requires a high level of specific expertise in both compliance and the science of pests and diseases, and has different requirements to customs.
Surely the Minister knows this?
WEDNESDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2014
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