On 28 July 2022 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 10 October 2022:
(a) the adequacy of Australia's biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot-and-mouth disease and varroa mite;
(b) response to and implementation of previous reports into biosecurity; and
(c) any related matters.
Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) yesterday received a direct invitation from the committee to make a submission addressing all or some of the terms of reference for this inquiry.
In order to support the FTA / APSA advocacy for Biosecurity reform, we encourage members to "have your say" by providing a submission to the committee via their Online Portal or via email to rrat.sen@aph.gov.au by the deadline of 5.30pm AEST Friday 26 August 2022.
CONFIDENTIALITY
It is important to note that while the committee normally makes submissions public, it can consider a request to receive evidence – such as a submission or an attachment to a submission – as a confidential document.
Confidential evidence is only provided to members of the committee and the name of the submitter is not made public.
If you would like the committee to consider receiving your evidence as confidential, please provide a covering letter to your submission that outlines the reasons for your request. We have received advice that the committee will sympathetically consider requests for confidentiality, but cannot make promises in advance.
Contact the committee secretariat if you require further advice on confidential evidence.
Details about the inquiry, including the terms of reference, can be found on the committee webpage.
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If you have any questions, please contact the committee secretariat on 02 6277 3511.
Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF