Dr WOODRUFF – The overuse of antibiotics in Chile has led to Chilean salmon agriculture having one of the highest rates of antibiotic consumption per tonne of harvested fish in the world. Do you understand that this is the pathway you’re sending Tasmania down, given that your department seems to have decided to use Chile as a model for learnings for the Tasmanian salmon industry in the information that was presented in the Reflections and Learnings report?
Mr PEARCE – You mention Chile, and there are good and bad news stories that have come out of that region. We need to learn, if we’re going to apply a continual improvement model in Tasmania, we need to learn the bad stories as well as the good. We need to put all available information that we can get from all over the globe, from all countries and all methods of fish farming, in order to build best practice. That’s what the salmon study is all about, is to gather that information. I look forward to that study getting underway and a lead being appointed, so they can go about their business of gathering world’s best practice, learning from the mistakes that have been made and making Tasmanian aquaculture the very best in the world. That’s what this is all about.
It’s all very well and good to mention a particular country, but there are good and bad lessons to be learned from all of them. That’s what I’m about.
Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you. Last year, minister Eric Abetz roundly condemned the federal Labor government for allowing Australia to import farmed salmon from Chile, and he said:
Federal Labor’s decision to allow the importation of this product demonstrates an alarming disregard for the disease risks associated with foreign fish and potential impact on local jobs.
Senator Jonathon Duniam said he was shocked at the decision to green-light imports from a country with ‘a long catalogue of environmental and human rights abuses in its salmon industry.’
Last year, government members, Liberal members were describing the Chilean salmon industry as a biosecurity risk for Australia with a record of environmental and human rights problems. Now you’re seeing that Chile is a model that we should be learning from in Tasmania. How can you justify that, minister? What do you say about the comments that minister Eric Abetz and Senator Duniam said just last year?
Mr PEARCE – If I could refer, first of all, to my previous answer in relation to Chilean salmon imports. The salmon industry has grown, through innovation, hard work and effective regulation, and is the largest animal industry and the largest single seafood commodity sector in Australia, both by production and volume. I would like to point out, in relation to that, you mentioned those comments from federal parliamentarians.
Dr WOODRUFF – And minister Eric Abetz.
Mr PEARCE – I must reiterate ‑ and behind me are some dedicated staff from Biosecurity Tasmania ‑ we maintain biosecurity measures that underpin our economy. Trade matters are something for particularly those people that you mentioned ‑ a federal decision. The introduction and the spread and emergence of infectious pathogens in the Tasmanian waterways is an issue that we need to consider here also.
I’m advised that there are a range of known diseases that have been associated with Chilean salmon that have the potential to severely impact the salmon industry, should they find their way to Tasmanian waters. We have reports also that samples of imported Chilean product on the mainland are not compliant with the Australian Food and Safety packaging requirements also. If this proves to be the case, it demonstrates that the Australian Government is not only opening the door to unacceptable levels of biosecurity risk, but also exposes Australian consumers to unnecessary food safety risks.
Dr WOODRUFF – What about the environmental records that Senator Duniam pointed to? They’re clearly extreme and outrageous. The Chilean industry has, unfortunately, an infamous record worldwide about their environmental impacts from the way they’re operating.
Mr PEARCE – And me, as the agricultural minister in Tasmania, is not the person to sign off on exports and imports.
Dr WOODRUFF – I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the fact that you’ve brought the Chilean companies here to tell us their learnings for best practice that you are going to use as a model for Tasmania. That’s what’s in here in your reflections and learning – a model for Tasmania about how to improve, and they’ve got an appalling environmental record. How do you square that?
Mr PEARCE – You mention environmental record.
Dr WOODRUFF – That’s what Jonathan Duniam said, and he is correct.
Mr PEARCE – With respect, I would politely have you address that with the minister for EPA, for the environment, Ms Ogilvie. She looks after the environment.
Dr WOODRUFF – You’re not concerned at all about that, in your portfolio?
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, please. Thank you.
