David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators O’Sullivan, Bernardi, Hanson, Hinch and Leyonhjelm, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 June 2017:

The biosecurity risks associated with imports of seafood and seafood products, including, but not limited to, uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat into Australia, with particular reference to:

(a) the management of the emergency response measures implemented to control the outbreak of White Spot Syndrome Virus in the Logan and Albert river areas;

(b) the effectiveness of biosecurity controls imposed on the importation of seafood and seafood products, including, but not limited to, uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat into Australia, including the import risk analysis process concluded in 2009 that led to these conditions being established;

(c) the effectiveness of post-entry surveillance measures and 'end use' import conditions for seafood and seafood products, including, but not limited to, uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat into Australia, since the import conditions implemented in 2010 were put in place;

(d) the impact of the outbreak on the Australian prawn industry;

(e) domestic and foreign trade implications for Australian industries resulting from the suspension of importation of seafood and seafood products, including, but not limited to, uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat into Australia;

(f) the matters to be satisfied in the management of biosecurity risk before imports of seafood and seafood products, including, but not limited to, uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat into Australia, could recommence; and

(g) any related matters.