Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland has called on the State Government to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity laws in Parliament this week.
Ms Cleeland said Victoria’s preparedness and response capability to biosecurity threats needed to be improved and provide further protections for Victoria’s agricultural and horticultural sectors.
Biosecurity issues had seen an uptick across the region, with farm trespassing, veterinarian shortages, and emergency animal diseases all being prevalent in recent years.
“Strengthening our ability to handle biosecurity threats is overdue so it is pleasing to finally see some action on this,” Ms Cleeland said.
Last year, The Nationals proposed increased biosecurity protections and harsher penalties for trespassing activists, something rejected by the Labor Government.
Victoria’s maximum farm trespass fines are currently half the maximum in New South Wales, which Ms Cleeland said led to local businesses like Benalla Abattoirs being repeatedly targeted by extremists, masquerading as animal activists.
While this new legislation will not resolve the issues faced by businesses impacted by trespassers overnight, Ms Cleeland said it was a step in the right direction to manage general threats to our biosecurity.
“Increasing the maximum penalty will send a strong message to anyone considering trespassing on private property that we won’t tolerate illegal invasions of strong local businesses,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Those putting food on our tables deserve to run their business without threats to the biosecurity of their product – as do all the consumers in our region.”
Ms Cleeland said protecting the biosecurity of our state relied on the capacities of our veterinarians and their ability to respond to outbreaks.
“Sadly, in my electorate and across many rural communities, the veterinary profession is not in a strong position,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Rural private vets are short of staff and struggling to meet the needs of clients, and there has been progressive downsizing of the animal health division at the Department of Agriculture.
“This notion has been reinforced by recent inquiries into vet shortages in New South Wales and it is imperative that changes are made to protect the industry, as well as our wider community from potential outbreaks of emergency animal diseases like Foot and Mouth disease.”
The biosecurity bill had bipartisan support in the Legislative Assembly.
