LEGISLATION OVERHAUL TO GIVE GREATER PROTECTION TO BANANA INDUSTRY
Published Tuesday, 12 December, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
The Queensland Government will abolish outdated legislation on banana industry pest protection, which will allow better planning and biosecurity.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said an independent review had recommended that the Banana Industry Protection Act 1989 be repealed and that any future voluntary funding from industry should be managed by an entity independent of the Banana Industry Protection Board.
“The Government has decided to repeal the Act after two years of consultation with industry,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The Plant Protection Act already provides the basis for the regulation of banana industry biosecurity, and a separate Banana Industry Protection Act is no longer required.
“Some functions of the soon-to-be repealed Act duplicate those core services performed by DPI&F staff under the Plant Protection Act.
“In addition it is not appropriate for a Queensland statutory body – in this case the Banana Industry Protection Board - to decide how voluntary industry funds are distributed.”
“DPI&F will still fund and deliver core services to the banana industry.”
Mr Mulherin said industry could now decide if and how it wanted to conduct additional biosecurity and other related work, over and above that already provided by DPI&F.
“I congratulate the Banana Industry Protection Board on its excellent work recently, especially on its corporate governance, including communication, transparency and accountability, and in regard to the proposed enhanced program for banana industry Biosecurity,” he said.
Industry and the general public are invited to read and make comments on the Position Paper by January 31, 2007. It is being distributed to industry organisations and is available on the Department’s website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Media: 323 96530
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said an independent review had recommended that the Banana Industry Protection Act 1989 be repealed and that any future voluntary funding from industry should be managed by an entity independent of the Banana Industry Protection Board.
“The Government has decided to repeal the Act after two years of consultation with industry,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The Plant Protection Act already provides the basis for the regulation of banana industry biosecurity, and a separate Banana Industry Protection Act is no longer required.
“Some functions of the soon-to-be repealed Act duplicate those core services performed by DPI&F staff under the Plant Protection Act.
“In addition it is not appropriate for a Queensland statutory body – in this case the Banana Industry Protection Board - to decide how voluntary industry funds are distributed.”
“DPI&F will still fund and deliver core services to the banana industry.”
Mr Mulherin said industry could now decide if and how it wanted to conduct additional biosecurity and other related work, over and above that already provided by DPI&F.
“I congratulate the Banana Industry Protection Board on its excellent work recently, especially on its corporate governance, including communication, transparency and accountability, and in regard to the proposed enhanced program for banana industry Biosecurity,” he said.
Industry and the general public are invited to read and make comments on the Position Paper by January 31, 2007. It is being distributed to industry organisations and is available on the Department’s website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Media: 323 96530