Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is a spot chase. To cut a long story short I should ignore that interjection, because you got me on the hop there, Senator Carr. It was a good one. I am absolutely alarmed that this has happened in this day and age. Unfortunately, we will come back here. I cannot see any good coming out of this. I do not know what the hell it is that these importers—I tell you we will find out who you are and we will report you to the relevant authorities. They cannot be allowed to walk away from this scot-free. I would expect every Australian to be absolutely disgusted that some so-and-sos thought they were so clever that they could import prawns, evade all our biosecurity and do this damage to our aquaculture and wild catch industries, not to mention show such scant regard for Australia's biosecurity.

I have to leave on this: it absolutely alarms me that officials can sit in Senate estimates and tell senators who are asking how the hell this happened something along the lines of: 'We've had a little bit of a hiccup. Our inspectors didn't quite have the skills they needed,'—I am not making this up; you have to believe this—'but we've spoken to them and we've corrected it. They'll be right.' I cannot give you the exact lines, because I left them up on my desk. It will not be right. I know the carry on and the damage that happened with canker, but we were able to contain that. How the hell we can contain this outbreak in our oceans has me absolutely perplexed. Anyway, we will certainly do our job, the rural, regional affairs and transport committee. It will be done on a diligent expedition around Australia, and I am not looking forward to the final report that we may have to present to the Senate. To the bureaucracy down there in Canberra: if you think you're going to get out of this one—gee whiz—you'll be better than Houdini!

I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.