Tasmania is boosting its biosecurity defences with an additional $13 million investment towards more frontline protection staff from the state government.
The funding will go towards upgrading biosecurity infrastructure at key entry points, including Hobart and Launceston airports and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal in Devonport.
Minister for Primary Industries Jane Howlett said the investment will help protect the state’s agriculture sector and maintain its fruit fly-free status.
“Things like [fruit-fly and varroa mite] can absolutely destroy our bee sector and we want to keep as many disease incursions and weeds away from Tasmania as possible,” she said.
The investment includes $12 million for additional biosecurity offices, frontline services and research.
Biosecurity Tasmania Director Justin Helmich said the upgrades will address risks identified in a recent review of the state’s biosecurity pathways.
“Within the review there are a number of risks that have been identified or improvements that can be made,” he said.
“Improvements to the detector dog unit in relation to how we actually go through our processes and also the research that goes on behind the scenes in terms of the appropriate prescriptions to ensure that biosecurity risks don’t enter Tasmania.”
The state currently has 10 detector dogs and is considering adding more to the fleet.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It really is an important thing to make sure that we do stop it from entering rather than have to deal with them once they enter Tasmania,” he said.
