Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[11.33 a.m.]
The Greens have been using every possible avenue to try to understand just how much florfenicol was used in south-eastern waterways under the now suspended emergency permit. We got nowhere with your agencies, so last week in parliament we went to the top and we asked you. Unfortunately, that didn’t help either. The answer we got on notice was that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) does not have figures for florfenicol usage. It’s unbelievable that a full three weeks after the permit for this antibiotic was suspended, the EPA doesn’t know how much florfenicol has been used. Premier, does anyone in your Tasmanian government know how much florfenicol was dumped in public waterways – the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE), Biosecurity Tasmania, or the Chief Veterinary Officer? If so, will you finally give us the figure and, if not, WTF?
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, I think we all know what that acronym stands for, so I will ask you to withdraw that, please.
Dr WOODRUFF – I withdraw it.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Order, I ask the House to settle please.
ANSWER
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question and the interest in this matter. The EPA has indicated that a report will be published for each antibiotic treatment event once the associated environmental monitoring program has been completed.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – We don’t want to wait for 21 drip-fed reports on the monitoring program, we just want to know how much florfenicol has been put into south-eastern waterways over the period of this now suspended permit – as of today, 26 March.
Mr ROCKLIFF – As soon as that information comes to hand I will be more than happy to table that information and make that
Dr WOODRUFF – You’re actively hiding it.
The SPEAKER – Order, Dr Woodruff.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I reject that.
Dr WOODRUFF – Do you actually not have it?
The SPEAKER – Dr Woodruff, this is your second warning.
Mr ROCKLIFF – With all due respect, that is not true. We can again go through a long history lesson of how much more environmental regulation and monitoring there is now with the salmon industry as there was when you were last in government. We’ve completely transformed the independence of the monitoring through the EPA and many other areas to satisfy community interest in continuous improvement because, as was highlighted before, it’s one of our largest primary industries, worth about $1.2 billion
The SPEAKER – The honourable Premier’s time has expired.
