David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to 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.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The motion, as noted by you, said that I was one of the signatories. I originally was, but I have asked for my name to be removed as a signatory. I also noticed we had another motion, moved by the Labor Party, on exactly the same issue. I did not want to be caught in the crossfire between these two competing motions. It is a very important issue; white spot virus in prawns is a very significant issue. It should not be being played as a political football by having two competing motions. The Greens are happy to support both motions, but we want the government and the Labor Party to get together and sort out the best way forward for this. Regardless we will have an inquiry and the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee will sort out the terms of reference, but it is ridiculous that we have got this being played as a political thing here in the chamber today.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Rice. We will make sure your name is removed.

David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also indicate that at the time that I agreed to sponsor Senator O'Sullivan's motion, I was not aware that Senator Sterle had something similar coming. I think both of them have merit. I am happy for my name to remain associated with Senator O'Sullivan's motion, but I also indicate that I hope that Senator Sterle's motion also succeeds and that the committee can basically deal with both motions.

Question agreed to.

Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Sterle, I move:

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

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 White Spot virus in Australia;

(b) the impact of the outbreak on Australia's wild and farm prawn sectors;

(c) the economic impact on Australian wholesalers and retailers;

(d) the adequacy and timeliness of the Commonwealth's response;

(e) the adequacy of Commonwealth resourcing of biosecurity measures, including Import Risk Assessments; and

(f) any related matters.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is a superior alternative motion before the Senate that we have just dealt with. The other motion proposes a comprehensive inquiry into biosecurity measures related to the control of white spot virus, the control of its outbreak in farm prawns in the area of the Logan and Albert Rivers and the implications of that outbreak. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility between the Commonwealth, the states and territories, industry and the community. The Queensland government, through Biosecurity Queensland, is the lead agency in managing the outbreak response. The Commonwealth has supported Queensland's response effort by seeking to exclude from the inquiry considerations of the response and resourcing by the Queensland government. This proposed reference would critically constrict the investigation of the committee into this important issue.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 4 as put by Senator Urquhart be agreed to.