Ms BADGER question to MINISTER for PRIMARY INDUSTRIES and WATER, Mr PEARCE
Tasmania’s east coast community is bracing for the extreme marine heatwave conditions forecast this summer. Native species may be pushed to their tolerable limit and introduced farmed Atlantic salmon will be pushed beyond the temperatures that they’re bred to withstand. Last year, hundreds of tonnes of florfenicol was dumped in south-eastern waterways, and Salmon Tasmania’s CEO has stated that the permit application with the federal regulator would expand florfenicol use to Okehampton and Storm Bay. In Estimates, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) secretary said the department would provide the industry with anything they needed for the permit. Tasmanians are deeply concerned about the proposed expanded use of florfenicol in east coast waterways this summer. Minister, exactly what support has the government given the industry to back in their application for the full use of florfenicol?
ANSWER
I thank the member for her question. It’s an important issue for all Tasmanians, as it is for me. You mentioned the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, or APVMA, which is the approving authority for florfenicol, the therapeutant that you mentioned. The application to that federal independent arbitrary body is made by Abbey Farms, the proponent of the application, and it is a clear and segregated process that we should not and must not interfere with.
Our government respects the APVMA’s role as Australia’s independent regulator and we support its robust, scientifically based assessment process to safeguard environmental standards and to maintain confidence in Australia’s seafood industries. We’ve always said that we must trust the science. We must continue to do just that. Any decision on a permit application is ultimately a matter, as I said, for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and it would be inappropriate for me or the government to seek or to pre-empt its decision.
I understand a minor use permit application has been lodged and that the salmon industry is working collaboratively with other seafood sectors on arrangements aimed at protecting market access. Our government welcomes the collaborative approach and expects all sectors to work together. Protecting our animal welfare, our environment and its values and managing trade risk across Tasmania’s seafood sector remain our top priorities.
The APVMA exists to undertake exactly this type of assessment; that’s what they’re for. They have scientific experts and will ask of our government certain questions to which we will respond. We will not steer, coerce or try to manipulate in any way their decision. We will simply answer scientific questions as a result or a request for information by that independent federal arbitrary body.
Our position is that future use of florfenicol must be supported by strong science, appropriate safeguards and effective measures in terms of managing trade and market access. In regard to the managing of trade access and trade risk, those measures are clearly outlined in our government’s Aquaculture Therapeutant – Wild Fisheries Market Access Management Plan.
Supplementary Question
Ms BADGER – You’ve said that you won’t interfere with the process or get involved in any way, but we’re asking about any kind of other support that you might have given. Are you then confirming that no letter of support has been sent to the body on behalf of the industry or any other assistance at all outside of the requested information that’s coming for NRE?
Mr PEARCE – In relation to clarifying exactly what I said in my previous answer, I said we will not coerce or try to manipulate, we’ll simply answer questions asked of us from a request for information by the independent federal body, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
