MORRISON MUST COMMIT TO PROPERLY RESOURCING AUSTRALIA'S BIOSECURITY SYSTEM

JOEL FITZGIBBON MP.
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3 years ago
MORRISON MUST COMMIT TO PROPERLY RESOURCING AUSTRALIA'S BIOSECURITY SYSTEM
JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
After three years of dithering and stumbling, today the Morrison Government dropped its proposal to introduce a Biosecurity Imports Levy.
 
In 2017, Dr Wendy Craik’s review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity identified concerning gaps and risks in Australia’s biosecurity system, including a warning about the risks posed by cruise ships.
 
The review found significant additional resourcing would be needed to overcome the shortcomings, and recommended a levy be placed on incoming shipping containers. The Government’s response was a levy which was to raise around $300 million.
 
The proposed Biosecurity Imports Levy was poorly designed and lacked industry consultation. The Morrison Government failed to implement the levy on its own proposed start dates in July and September last year, following the production of a flawed levy design and an understandable backlash from industry. 

The Government has now given up.

In this COVID environment industry will understandably welcome the decision to drop the levy now the government has decided it's all too hard.

In recent months the Australian community has developed a heightened awareness of the importance of a sound biosecurity system. 

It’s the same biosecurity system which protects our key competitive advantage in global agriculture markets: our reputation as a producer and provider of clean, green and safe food and fibre.

The Morrison Government must immediately explain how it’s going to address the biosecurity system’s shortcomings without a levy.
 
Agriculture and Water Resources