Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett needs to tell Tasmanians how he intends to ensure the state's borders are protected by revealing how many new biosecurity officers are in training today.
Shadow Primary Industries Minister Janie Finlay said the government had asked State Service employees to volunteer to take on border protection biosecurity roles by last Friday with training to start today.
"If Mr Barnett's assurances around biosecurity at our airports and ports are to be believed, he will release the numbers of new officers who have volunteered for the job and are now undertaking training," Ms Finlay said.
"The fact that the Liberal Government has scrambled at the last minute to bolster biosecurity numbers is worrying enough but Mr Barnett must now back up his assurances with evidence of increased numbers.
"It's extremely worrying and really unacceptable that the Liberals have only in the past week started asking workers across the State Service to put their hands up to monitor the borders at Tasmania's three major airports.
"Additionally, it's concerning that they are offering training just two days before Tasmania's borders reopen.
"Tasmanians need absolute assurance that existing biosecurity officers will be allowed to continue their focus on preventing pests entering the state in fruit and vegetable imports.
"The Liberals savagely cut funding to Biosecurity Tasmania, resulting in incursions on multiple fronts three years ago, including fruit fly, blueberry rust and myrtle rust.
"With this last minute scramble, it's clear the government has not learned from that and it cannot be allowed to happen again."
Janie Finlay MP
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries
