Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Hansard source

I attempt to be pleasant and I get screams of interjections, Mr President. The government recognises the importance of a rigorous system to minimise the risk of pests and disease, particularly as globalisation and climate change increase these threats. On 18 December 2008, the minister released the independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, and the government’s preliminary response. The review delivers on a key election commitment. It is the first review since what was known as the Nairn review of 1996, which was established by the previous Labor government, and the panel found that Australia’s biosecurity and quarantine systems can be improved to deal with the emerging biosecurity threats. There were three sets of main changes: improving partnerships with the states and territories as well as industry; improving governance structures, including a— (Time expired)