FARMERS have until Friday to say how biosecurity risks should be dealt with in NSW.
Last year Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair saw the complex Biosecurity Bill pass through parliament last September on a promise of widespread consultation on how the new laws would affect landholders, farmers and wider industry.
Mr Blair said the bill was “cohesive, up-to-date and easy to understand”.
Labor’s Primary Industries spokesman Mick Veitch said he was concerned the summer holidays had taken the spotlight off the reform.
“We don’t want people to miss out on the ability to have their say because it was summer holidays,” Mr Veitch said. “This is bigger than just the farming fraternity.
“As we’ve seen with the Zika virus, biosecurity can affect everyone.”
Mr Veitch said the introduction of a “general biosecurity duty” represented a major shift in the laws, with a person who deals with or knows about a biosecurity risk now tasked with taking action or informing authorities.
Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham remained critical of the reforms. “The Biosecurity Act goes halfway towards fixing our biosecurity system but fails miserably when it comes to independence, transparency, scientific rigour and accountability,” Mr Buckingham said.
“The legislation was devised by bureaucrats who want a good overarching framework for biosecurity but who also know under a Coalition government the resources needed to implement the framework will be gradually ripped away.”
- Make a submission at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurityact by February 12.
