House debates Questions without Notice

Trade: Import Risk Analysis

Tuesday, 30 May 2006 House of Representatives

Bernie Ripoll

Bernie Ripoll Oxley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations

2:44 pm

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. Can the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that the government is currently reviewing import risk analysis arrangements for mushroom imports? Will the fact that his National Party colleagues and, in particular, the member for Maranoa, keep him in the dark and feed him fertiliser influence the outcome of this review?

David Hawker

David Hawker Speaker

I will call the Deputy Prime Minister to answer the first part of that question. I believe the second part contained ironical expressions, so it is not necessary for him to answer it.

Mark Vaile

Mark Vaile Lyne, National Party, Minister for Trade

The honourable member’s question was about Australia’s import risk analysis process. My understanding is that there are about 118 import risk analysis processes under way today. Our government and our party are committed to ensuring that the environment of Australia stays free of exotic pests and diseases to keep safe our agriculture and the food products we export to the world.