Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Foot and mouth disease is still an enormous risk to Australian agriculture—a risk that could impact our economy by $80 billion. In May, my constituents were so concerned with the protocols that were in place, and the lack of transparency on how the timelines would be dealt with to make sure proper security was being put in place to ensure FMD doesn't come to Australia, that they held a rally in Colac and started a petition. There are hundreds of signatures in this petition that I wish to table today. More than that, we also wrote to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt, outlining our concerns and the need for transparency around the action that the government should be taking. Sadly, we are yet to see a response to that letter. With this lack of transparency of the action that's being put in place here in Australia and in Indonesia, my farmers remain very concerned. That's why I'm seeking leave today to table this petition and to once again express our concern with the lack of transparency around what's being done for FMD—especially now that we're hearing reports from the ABC that the Prime Minister's chief agriculture advisor believes the farming of animals is cruel. We need a response from the government, and I seek leave to table this petition.

Leave granted.

Port Fairy is one of the most beautiful towns in my electorate. It has won tourism award after tourism award. But there is one thing which continues to hold Port Fairy back, and that is the taste of its water. Locals know that it needs improving, and tourists who go there, sadly, find out that it needs improving. Members of the Port Fairy community want to see action taken, and I have 2,000 signatures of both locals and tourists calling for Wannon Water to take action to improve the drinking quality of the water in Port Fairy.

There are various options being considered as to how this should be done, but my constituents have made it loud and clear that they think that piping should be seriously considered as an option for improving the drinking water in Port Fairy. They call on Wannon Water to engage in the ability for piping—for numerous reasons—to provide better-quality drinking water for the town of Port Fairy. I seek leave to table this petition.

Leave granted.