The Rudd Labor Government is preparing to relax Australia’s strong quarantine rules on 1 March 2010 to allow beef imports from countries known to have had outbreaks of ‘mad cow’ disease.
Nationals NSW Senator Fiona Nash said, the Rudd Labor Government wants us all to believe that because there is only negligible risk of ‘mad cow’ of getting into Australia that it’s OK to change the rules.
“The fact there is negligible risk of mad cow disease getting into Australia means there is a risk,” said Senator Nash.
“I don’t think anyone wants to walk into a restaurant with a sign out front saying ‘negligible risk of getting ‘mad cow’ here’?”
“Rudd Labor are racing to put the ‘mad cow’ beef import changes in by next Monday, 1 March 2010 but no-one knows how the ‘mad cow’ protocols will work because they haven’t been developed yet!
“’Mad cow’ disease has a dormant period of 40 years. How can Rudd Labor say ‘yes, this is safe, and this is fantastic for Australia because there is only negligible risk you’ll get ‘mad cow’?
“Some parties to the secret ‘mad cow’ negotiations, which have only recently come to light, suggest we need the changes to prevent international trade retaliation from some of Australia’s trading partners.
“For years Australia’s trading partners have been pushing to get access to our market saying they feel they’re unfairly precluded because of our strong quarantine rules. Then on the other hand we’re told there isn’t going to be any great increase in beef imports to Australia.
“Australia is an island nation, we have no common borders with other countries like nations in the Americas or Europe. So why does agriculture minister Tony Burke want to compromise our Australia’s disease free status?
“Even if Tony Burke makes the ‘mad cow’ import protocols publicly available today, there is neither time nor opportunity for any thorough public or parliamentary scrutiny before their introduction on Monday, 1 March 2010.”
Every Australian should be alarmed and concerned that Rudd Labor wants to relax Australia’s strong quarantine rules and put Australia at needless risk of ‘mad cow’ disease coming into our nation, said Senator Nash.
Media Contact: Clare Taylor
0447 340 025
Friday, February 26, 2010 2:57 PM
I've got to agree with Senator Nash. Seems very reckless and inconsiderate to me. I pray the Rudd government will reconsider.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 12:06 PM
This has the potential to make the pink batt scandal look like a walk in the park.