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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 877 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 September 2020 by Hon Colin De Grussa

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

KALGOORLIE QUARANTINE AND DECONTAMINATION FACILITY

877. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:

I refer to the Kalgoorlie quarantine and decontamination facility.

(1) What food, ablution and ancillary services are provided by the state government at the facility to accommodate male and female truck drivers on site?

(2) If there are no facilities, therefore meaning truck drivers are required to seek alternative accommodation, would the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development take legal responsibility for the welfare of the livestock in transit?

(3) Is the minister satisfied that staff employed at the facility have the suitable stock-handling accreditation and experience to undertake quarantine and decontamination activities, as well as manage the safety and welfare of livestock in their custody?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question.

(1) Male and female ablution services are available to truck drivers at the South Boulder quarantine yard. But, not surprisingly, there are no accommodation or food services at the facility, as the provision for accommodation and food for truck drivers is not part of departmental responsibility. However, DPIRD management has recently become aware that some truck drivers have been sleeping in the DPIRD staff administration block in the yards. Although we understand that that may have been an unofficial arrangement with local DPIRD employees, the department's management considers this is a health risk, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, that arrangement is no longer in place.

Many long-haul vehicles have built-in cab accommodation and the facility is close to the Boulder town site where other accommodation is available.

(2) The transporter is responsible for the welfare of livestock that they are transporting. Transporters should be arriving at the facilities during business hours when the livestock can be unloaded, inspected and reloaded after the truck has completed a wash down.

(3) I am advised that the acting senior quarantine inspector is an authorised officer under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and has undertaken training for handling stock animals.