Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
The passing of the Biosecurity (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020 in the Lower House today showed unanimous support for the Tasmanian Government's biosecurity legislation.
Biosecurity is essential to Tasmania's agricultural productivity, continued market access, our reputation for high quality primary products and the health of our natural environment, especially as we rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
Tasmania is moving ahead with fully implementing strong new nation-leading biosecurity laws to protect the state because it is critical that we have effective legislation to protect our primary industries, Brand Tasmania and the natural environment.
The Biosecurity Act was passed by Parliament in 2019 and began operating in January this year, with DPIPWE progressively implementing a suite of new regulations, administrative systems and resources.
The Department is well advanced with the implementation project, with changes being rolled out in a staged manner to minimise impact to business and the community.
The final stages of the implementation of the new Act will involve the repeal of the seven Acts being replaced by the new legislation.
The Biosecurity (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020 helps to correct references in other related Acts and regulations that will continue to operate after the Biosecurity Act is fully implemented. It is machinery legislation that is ancillary to the Biosecurity Act and does not introduce any new policy or legal requirements in itself.
This Bill is a necessary requirement, and represents another key step in the roll-out of Tasmania's new biosecurity framework.
