AGRICULTURE AND FOOD —
BIOSECURITY — GREAT CENTRAL ROAD
354. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the increased traffic
entering Western Australia via Great Central Road.
(1) Given the
increased traffic on that road, what extra measures has the minister put in
place to counter the increased potential for biosecurity breaches at our
border?
(2) Is the
minister aware of recent roadwork activity at the Great Central Road quarantine
checkpoint just east of Laverton making it difficult for travellers to use the
quarantine bin areas?
(3) Can the
minister provide assurances that the Western Australian agricultural sector is
being adequately protected by the state's biosecurity apparatus?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
I have sought photographic confirmation of the answer that I will give here and
I am satisfied that it is reasonable.
(1) The
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has four quarantine
signs situated on the Great Central Road commencing at the information bay,
where there is also a quarantine bin. The signage
is then placed at 500 metres, five kilometres and 100-kilometre intervals from
the information bay towards the state border. The signage and quarantine
bin were upgraded in November 2020 to encourage compliance with the Biosecurity
and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
(2) Although the
information bay area is being used as a layover area, travellers still have
access to the quarantine bin, which is clearly marked. The road crew provide
direction to the quarantine bin to ensure occupational health and safety
measures are also adhered to.
(3) Quarantine
efforts to safeguard the state from biosecurity risks remain a high priority
for the government. Interstate travellers at all checkpoints and border
crossings are reminded of the legal requirement to dispose of quarantine risk–material
in quarantine bins or declare to a quarantine inspector.