Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bendigo for her comments on biosecurity. She called for national leadership, and that is precisely what the Liberals and the Nationals are delivering. When I was in my first ministerial role I was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance. I well remember going down to the post-entry quarantine facility site at Mickleham, in the electorate of the member for McEwan, and looking at that 144-hectare site, which at that stage was just a greenfield—in fact, you could actually say it was a brownfield. That site has been transformed into a veritable Noah's ark. There are cats, dogs, horses, birds, plants and bees getting the proper quarantine that they need. At the time I commended the previous Labor government for having the vision to have all of that in one facility, because it superseded post-entry quarantine facilities in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. But, of course, it took a Liberal and Nationals government to pay for it. It took a Liberal and Nationals government to build it, and indeed we did build it and it's making such a difference. I know that the Donnybrook Road facility is doing such a great job and it will continue to do that.

The member for Bendigo spoke about leadership, and that's exactly what we are providing through one of these key pillars. We're trying, and we will, get our agriculture industry to grow to $100 billion by 2030. Biosecurity is one of the key pillars of doing just that, and that's why in this year's budget, delivered in May, we announced a package for biosecurity of more than $400 million, which is building on what we've done previously. Indeed, from 2016-17 to this financial year total Australian government expenditure for biosecurity and export services has increased by 28 per cent in real terms. That's delivery; that's getting on with the job. I know we as regional members understand—and I appreciate the member for Cunningham does too—how important biosecurity is. I've been in this place long enough to have served with John Cobb, a former shadow agriculture minister. I remember going to New Zealand with him on a self-funded tour to ensure that fire blight wasn't going to come into Australia with New Zealand apples, which had been allowed to be imported into our country. That is such a shame because we grow great apples at Batlow, in Tasmania and elsewhere. Right across the country, we grow great apples. Much as I love New Zealand and my friends across the ditch, why would we want to import New Zealand apples?

I also remember the fear of outbreaks of the Asian bee and potential incursions of fire ants. The member for Bendigo mentioned swine flu. She mentioned all the things that people try to bring into Australia in their suitcases. This is just madness, and that is why we have increased fines and we have made sure that people who try to bring in prohibited items are literally sent packing back to whence they came—and so they should be. We want to make sure that our agriculture sector can reach that goal of $100 billion by 2030, and that's why we're doing everything we can. On 26 May this year the minister for agriculture released the Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 road map. It's a plan to protect Australia's environment, economy—most importantly—and way of life by setting strategic actions and clear early deliverables. That's what we do. As Liberals, as Nationals, we make sure that our farmers are protected. We make sure that our animals are clean and green when they're being processed so that our export opportunities are not put at risk by anything that may come into this country, or anything that we may do in this country.

I have to say the packaging, the labelling and the food origin requirements that have been placed on farmers have made the world of difference. You will recall, Mr Acting Deputy Speaker Wallace, the work that former senator John 'Wacka' Williams did in this place to make sure that that labelling is right. It all goes to food security; it all goes to biosecurity; it all goes to making sure that people know that, from paddock to plate, their food is going to be the best. Of course, Australian food is the best and Australian farmers are the best not only in the Pacific rim but right around the world. I compliment them and I compliment the government's biosecurity stance.

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