Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture informed Senate estimates that 'We have not made changes on surveillance rates for berries broadly at this stage,' but just days ago the Prime Minister said, 'We have moved to 100 per cent screening of these sorts of imports'. Given the Prime Minister's track record, who is telling the truth about frozen berry screening, the secretary of the agriculture department or the Prime Minister?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no inconsistency with what has been said. As the secretary of the department has indicated, not all berries are being 100 per cent screened; but, as I said, all the berries connected with this outbreak are being 100 per cent screened. Very easy. Let me put the Leader of the Opposition's mind at rest. Frozen berries linked to cases of hepatitis A are no longer entering the food supply chain. FSANZ has provided interim risk advice that the suspect berries from the manufacturers linked to the cases of hepatitis A are a medium risk and a risk to human health and as such will be subject to 100 per cent inspection and testing at the border.