Page 3398 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 17 September 1991
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This Bill will, as the Minister said, meet contemporary requirements for animal disease control, in line with comparable legislation in all other States of the country. I think it complements a national link in the protection not only of our rural industries but also, at the end of the day, of our consumers. I guess that that also goes right through into the area of export industry.
I am sure that every member of the Assembly will support this legislation. It is something which has been long overdue, as I have said. Among the descriptions of certain Bills, it ranks as a quiet achiever. Something which has been needed for a long time is now, thankfully, about to be put into place.
MRS NOLAN (5.35): Mr Speaker, very briefly, the Liberal Opposition supports this Bill. It is legislation that brings the ACT into line with the rest of Australia. As the Minister said in his tabling remarks, it should be seen as an important part of the south-east region of New South Wales.
Many people often forget about the part the rural industry plays in the ACT economy. Those of us in the Assembly with a rural background are very aware of the gross annual value of rural production. Essential legislation to protect that income by providing effective disease control is very important.
We are lucky here in the ACT that the local product has remained, for the most part, disease free. Rural producers should be commended for this. I believe that they recognise very much their responsibility to ensure identification of cattle presented for either sale or slaughter which can then be provided for the tracing of and the isolation of animal disease outbreaks.
Mr Speaker, I did say that I was going to be very brief in relation to the Bill. However, there is one particular point I would like to make. I would like to use this opportunity to remind members about the rural community. Mr Duby mentioned the numbers of sheep and cattle in the Territory. I think those figures were a little old, but they do show the significance of the numbers. I think there are about 57,660 hectares of rural land in the ACT. I think it is important that we remind people that we are more than a city-state, if you like. The rural community, I believe, must have ongoing support and needs recognition by governments for the contribution it makes to the ACT economy.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to remind members of what is happening in New South Wales presently in relation to rural legislation. Currently, they are looking to restrict the use of travelling stock reserves by walking sheep and goats as a measure to prevent the transmission of footrot. In fact, the proposal is currently in place for legislation
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