Labor has all but confirmed it ignored the Inspector-General of Biosecurity’s advice in its decision to approve US beef imports.
Nationals Leader, David Littleproud, said Agriculture Minister Julie Collins appears to have either refused or ignored advice that import risk assessments should include the oversight of a Scientific Advisory Group, which is why the Senate needs to vote for a Senate Inquiry today.
It comes as concerns grow following Labor’s decision to allow US beef that is born and raised in Canada or Mexico to be imported into Australia.
“Minister Collins needs to explain why the advice of the Inspector-General of Biosecurity wasn’t considered and why it has fallen on deaf ears when it comes to such an important decision,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Is the Minister ignoring her own Inspector-General of Biosecurity, and if so, does that put Australia’s biosecurity at risk?
“Is Labor willing to undermine Australia’s high biosecurity, just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump?”
The Inspector-General of Biosecurity recommended on March 28 this year that the Department should review the Scientific Advisory Group, focusing on ‘expanding the group’s role to provide technical oversight for non-regulated import risk analyses’.
Despite the Government agreeing to this recommendation, noting the value the role of the Scientific Advisory Group to independently verify the Department’s scientific analyses, the Group’s membership lapsed on the first of March.
“It appears there has been no peer review of this decision,” Mr Littleproud said.
“That is why I requested an Independent Review. It is clear further investigation is needed, which is why the Coalition is also calling for a Senate Inquiry.”
The Inspector-General of Biosecurity is an independent, statutory officer appointed, under Section 566A of the Commonwealth Biosecurity Act 2015, by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Inspector-General is responsible for reviewing the performance of functions, or exercise of powers, by biosecurity officials in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Members of the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) are independent experts who have been appointed by the Director of Biosecurity. The Group can provide advice on biosecurity import risk analyses (BIRAs) and utilise members of the SAG in their capacity as independent experts to review standard import risk analyses.
