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From ABC Country Hour Tasmania
Report: Jane Bardon
Farmers are even more alarmed about the state of the quarantine system following the revelation of a report concealed by the Howard Government.The consultants report says AQIS is failing to meet government targets for inspecting air and sea imports for exotic pests and diseases.The Ernst and Young report commissioned by the Howard Government says the Quarantine and Inspection Service has failed to meet targets for screening ship cargo since 2004.It says more resources are needed, particularly in New South Wales, and screening of mail into Western Australia is inadequate.New South Wales Horticulture Committee chairman Peter Darley says a full Senate inquiry is needed into the quarantine system."We are very concerned about the incompetence of AQIS. Equine influenza certainly puts the warning bells out that AQIS needs to be more vigilant."And I think it is disgusting if this report was kept under wraps."The Howard Government received the report last September, just after the horse flu outbreak.Before losing office it commissioned a judicial inquiry into horse flu, but didn't release the AQIS report.The Coalition's Agriculture spokesman Nigel Scullion is defending his government's actions."Over the Howard Government years, we can be very confident that we have had a very comprehensive and secure system in terms of biosecurity, but we need to keep reviewing it in the light of new threats."AQIS and the department of agriculture are refusing to comment.Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says his government is pressing ahead with its own review.Greens Senator Christine Milne says farmers and fishermen can't afford to wait and extra resources should be spent now targeting the problem areas highlighted by the report.
Report: Jane Bardon
Farmers are even more alarmed about the state of the quarantine system following the revelation of a report concealed by the Howard Government.The consultants report says AQIS is failing to meet government targets for inspecting air and sea imports for exotic pests and diseases.The Ernst and Young report commissioned by the Howard Government says the Quarantine and Inspection Service has failed to meet targets for screening ship cargo since 2004.It says more resources are needed, particularly in New South Wales, and screening of mail into Western Australia is inadequate.New South Wales Horticulture Committee chairman Peter Darley says a full Senate inquiry is needed into the quarantine system."We are very concerned about the incompetence of AQIS. Equine influenza certainly puts the warning bells out that AQIS needs to be more vigilant."And I think it is disgusting if this report was kept under wraps."The Howard Government received the report last September, just after the horse flu outbreak.Before losing office it commissioned a judicial inquiry into horse flu, but didn't release the AQIS report.The Coalition's Agriculture spokesman Nigel Scullion is defending his government's actions."Over the Howard Government years, we can be very confident that we have had a very comprehensive and secure system in terms of biosecurity, but we need to keep reviewing it in the light of new threats."AQIS and the department of agriculture are refusing to comment.Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says his government is pressing ahead with its own review.Greens Senator Christine Milne says farmers and fishermen can't afford to wait and extra resources should be spent now targeting the problem areas highlighted by the report.
In this report: Peter Darley, New South Wales Horticulture Committee chairman; Nigel Scullion, Coalition agriculture spokesman; Tony Burke, Agriculture Minister; Christine Milne, Greens Senator
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