Kim Chance

Kim Chance

Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; the Mid West and Wheatbelt; Great Southern

    Bill to boost biosecurity in Western Australia

    29/11/2005 12:00 AM
     
    29/11/05

    Agriculture Minister Kim Chance today announced the release of a Green Bill that will ensure the security of Western Australia’s agricultural sector.

    Mr Chance said the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management draft Bill was released today for public comment ahead of its formal introduction and debate in Parliament in Autumn 2006.

    “Biosecurity is vital to WA’s agricultural sector,” Mr Chance said.

    “One of the State’s great strengths is its clean and green image - top line biosecurity measures are vital to maintaining that image.”

    The Minister said a number of invasive species, diseases and weeds had been dealt with in WA recently and it was of great importance that the Government continued to be successful in preventing incursions.

    It was also important to have the legislative framework required to deal with any invasions before they did serious damage to the State.

    “This new bill, developed in consultation with a wide range of interested parties, will assist in that process,” Mr Chance said.

    “The Gallop Government is committed to protecting and enhancing WA’s unique environment.”

    A consistent theme identified by key stakeholders - in particular WA Farmers and the Pastoralist’s and Graziers’ Association - during consultation on the development of the Bill, was the need for the Minister to undertake adequate consultation before establishing regulations.

    This principle has been incorporated into the Bill and there is a specific duty on the Minister to consult before making any regulations with persons who are likely to be affected, or interested, in a significant way by the regulations. Development of the regulations and consultation with stakeholders on the detail of the regulations will occur throughout 2006.

    The Bill has been under development since 1999 and will replace 17 existing acts within the Agriculture Portfolio.

    Printed copies of the Bill are available from the State Law Publisher (Tel (08) 9321 7688). An electronic version of the Bill and further background information is available from the Department of Agriculture’s website at http://www.agric.wa.gov.au

    Interested members of the public and sectors of primary industry have the opportunity to consider and make comment on the Bill before March 31, 2006. Comments should be lodged with:
    Manager
    Legislation
    Department of Agriculture
    Locked Bag 4
    Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983

    Telephone (08) 9368 3530 Fax (08) 9368 6425

    Minister's office: 9213 6700