Mr MITCHELL - 1996-08-14
I understand several industries involved in the export of primary products are concerned about the federal government's plans to change quarantine arrangements in the Territory. Can the minister detail what the Commonwealth has in mind and what concerns are held by the industry and the Territory government?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, some months ago, I received correspondence from the federal Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Hon John Anderson, informing me that he has decided unilaterally to withdraw from the current quarantine arrangements that were established by way of agreement between the previous ministers of the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth, along with ministers from Queensland, Western Australia and several other states. Following receipt of that letter, I wrote to Hon John Anderson, expressing disappointment and pointing out that, if the federal government had any concerns with the delivery of the quarantine services in the Northern Territory, officials should discuss those concerns, clarify the arrangements and proceed from there.
It seems that Hon John Anderson is being advised by the same people who were advising the previous federal government. It seems that they are paying scant regard to the usual protocols that should exist, not between political parties but between respective sovereign governments. If a contractual agreement is signed, the arrangement should stand, notwithstanding any change of political parties in power. The former Leader of the
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Opposition, the member for Stuart, would well know the principle of sovereign risk and crown immunity that applies to this.
Over the months following, considerable concern has been expressed by the 2 major industry bodies in the Northern Territory - the Northern Territory Horticultural Association and the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association - that any attempt to remove the control of the North Australian Quarantine Service, together with the export service, back from Darwin to Canberra would lead to a severe diminution of the services available and would remove from Northern Territory producers and exporters their ability to deal directly with the people in control and to resolve their problems immediately as they emerge.
If there is a problem with exporting cattle, it is not possible to wait for 2 or 3 days or a week for someone in Canberra to make a decision. Ten truckloads are on the boat and have to go. They need food and water. There is a trip of 4 or 5 days to Indonesia or the Philippines where they will be unloaded. If a producer has a load of mangoes at Darwin Airport for export to Hong Kong, Japan or wherever, they cannot wait a week until someone in AQIS in Canberra makes the decision in relation to the export requirements. They need to have them on the plane. They have a limited shelf life. Industry has expressed grave concerns about the intention of the federal government to change the current quarantine arrangement. I am hopeful that, in due course, commonsense will prevail and the federal minister will accede to requests from the Northern Territory and Western Australia governments that officials sit down and at least discuss the problems before he makes a unilateral decision to break a contractual agreement between the federal body politic and the body politic of the Territory.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, some months ago, I received correspondence from the federal Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, Hon John Anderson, informing me that he has decided unilaterally to withdraw from the current quarantine arrangements that were established by way of agreement between the previous ministers of the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth, along with ministers from Queensland, Western Australia and several other states. Following receipt of that letter, I wrote to Hon John Anderson, expressing disappointment and pointing out that, if the federal government had any concerns with the delivery of the quarantine services in the Northern Territory, officials should discuss those concerns, clarify the arrangements and proceed from there.
It seems that Hon John Anderson is being advised by the same people who were advising the previous federal government. It seems that they are paying scant regard to the usual protocols that should exist, not between political parties but between respective sovereign governments. If a contractual agreement is signed, the arrangement should stand, notwithstanding any change of political parties in power. The former Leader of the
Page 1485
Opposition, the member for Stuart, would well know the principle of sovereign risk and crown immunity that applies to this.
Over the months following, considerable concern has been expressed by the 2 major industry bodies in the Northern Territory - the Northern Territory Horticultural Association and the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association - that any attempt to remove the control of the North Australian Quarantine Service, together with the export service, back from Darwin to Canberra would lead to a severe diminution of the services available and would remove from Northern Territory producers and exporters their ability to deal directly with the people in control and to resolve their problems immediately as they emerge.
If there is a problem with exporting cattle, it is not possible to wait for 2 or 3 days or a week for someone in Canberra to make a decision. Ten truckloads are on the boat and have to go. They need food and water. There is a trip of 4 or 5 days to Indonesia or the Philippines where they will be unloaded. If a producer has a load of mangoes at Darwin Airport for export to Hong Kong, Japan or wherever, they cannot wait a week until someone in AQIS in Canberra makes the decision in relation to the export requirements. They need to have them on the plane. They have a limited shelf life. Industry has expressed grave concerns about the intention of the federal government to change the current quarantine arrangement. I am hopeful that, in due course, commonsense will prevail and the federal minister will accede to requests from the Northern Territory and Western Australia governments that officials sit down and at least discuss the problems before he makes a unilateral decision to break a contractual agreement between the federal body politic and the body politic of the Territory.
Page 1486
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016