THERE are a number of issues lately that have highlighted the importance of biosecurity issues to producers and the wider community.
With this has come the discussion around the duty of care and obligations associated with protecting the integrity of our industries’ viability.
Recently the Department of Agriculture issued a warning following the conviction of Wonsoek Lee from Changshin International for illegally and knowingly importing dairy product into Australia.
Not only did Mr Lee receive a conviction for importing a large amount of high risk product, he flatly disobeyed an order to move the product into quarantine.
The DAFF stated that the $20,000 fine and suspended sentence of one year seven months sent a strong message.
The Department may think that it has sent a strong message, but I am afraid that as a dairy farmer I do not agree.
With the risk of imported dairy products carrying foot and mouth disease standing to cost the Australian economy $50 billion over 10 years, this falls well short of any comparable deterrent to the associated risk.
The other public saga of Pistol and Boo and their illegal holiday jaunt to the Gold Coast with owners Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.
The matter is now before the courts and has been adjourned until November.
Mr Depp’s criticism of Barnaby Joyce should not endear him to thinking Australians.
While Australians love to stick it to our politicians, when criticism comes from a citizen of another country who has defied our biosecurity laws it seems very disingenuous. Perhaps the greatest irony is that similar laws exist in Mr Depp’s own country.
The most disconcerting comments out of the saga have come from mainstream media.
There appeared to be a collective view that Barnaby caused acute embarrassment to Australia’s reputation by simply asking a Hollywood star to comply with our nation’s laws.
If this reflects the general urban perception of our biosecurity obligations it does not bode well for the future.
The third item is the ongoing differing views on the management of Bovine Johnes Disease (BJD). There has been much said lately about a Meat and Livestock report that stated BJD only had a direct cost of $300,000 on the Northern Beef industry which ranked it lowest out of 17 diseases and pests.
I am not disputing the data that MLA used, but quoting that data as justification of the unimportance of BJD absolutely disrespects the protocols that have been put in place over many years.
