Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

He is a pirate; that's right. The only thing that stands guard over our clean, pest- and disease-free status, the outstanding quality of our soft commodity markets and the value they return to this nation is our biosecurity system. We will not get paid a premium price for our product if we have a product that is like everybody else's. Our biosecurity system underpins our capacity not only to feed ourselves but to provide those high-quality, sustainably produced soft commodities to millions of hungry mouths around the world and, most importantly, to our own nation.

This system protects our people, our unique pristine environment and, additionally, our $52 billion worth of agricultural industries and the lifestyle of so many people in so many places. For instance, it will protect them from rabies if they are in parks. That is a disease that we do not have that is merely next door in Bali.

The significant contribution to our economy is thanks to the hard work of farmers and primary producers, getting out there and toiling to make sure that they can put a product on a truck or boat that will ultimately cause revenue to flow back to the economy of our nation. These people battle and scratch their livings out in the western districts, on the coast or in dairy farms. They are doing a job that this nation has been noted for for the duration of its closer settlement. As a government we owe it to them to ensure we have the effective biosecurity management in place so that they can continue this noble endeavour of feeding and clothing people.

This legislation and the establishment of a statutory inspector-general will put these processes in place. We must not take for granted the enormity of the task that lies ahead of this legislation. It has been drafted such that for the next century or more it will protect the health and livelihoods of the hundreds of millions of Australians who will come after us. It will stand guard over the environment that surrounds us and the land on which we stand, the land from which we derive our wealth, long after we are no longer in this place. This, in reality, is one of the most important pieces of legislation this parliament will ever consider. It has been refreshing to see the bipartisan acknowledgement of how important an inspector-general of biosecurity and this legislation is for the country. I look forward to continued support as we implement this important reform. I would like to assure stakeholders that the government and my department will continue to consult and work with them through the development of regulations and other instruments. These instruments will be available for comment well in advance of commencement.

Finally, Otto von Bismarck said, 'Laws are like sausages; it is better not to see them being made.' Therefore, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the work of my Department of Agriculture and all who are in it. They have invested tens of thousands of hours into ensuring this legislation, as amended, has gained the confidence of not only the members and senators of the parliament but also the Australian community as a whole. I commend the bill, as amended, to the House.

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