Hon Jim Sutton
Minister for Biosecurity
Boost for biosecurity resources in budget
Biosecurity measures will be boosted for the fourth year in a row by the Labour Progressive Government, Biosecurity
Minister Jim Sutton said today.
Budget 2003 allocates $2.457 million over four years for aircraft, passenger, and mail clearance. Another $2.3 million
next financial year, rising to $2.5 million for the two following financial years, has been allocated for exotic disease
response capability, specifically for foot and mouth disease. Extra ongoing funding of $117,000 has been allocated for
reference laboratories, and $1.2 million has been allocated next financial year for surveillance for gypsy moth,
wood-boring and bark beetles, and fire ants.
In addition, the government has allocated through the cross-departmental research pool administered by MORST $170,000 in
2003-04 and $365,000 in 2004-05 to produce a national wildlife disease surveillance framework to enable the future
development of strategic and prioritized wildlife surveillance systems.
Mr Sutton said the government took biosecurity extremely seriously.
“Since we became government, we have worked to fill the holes and close the gaps previous governments left in our
biosecurity and border controls. Extra Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry staff have been employed, more soft-tissue
x-ray machines and detector dogs have been installed in airports around the country. Instant fines for breaches have
been implemented. We are still the only country in the world to screen mail, air crew and passengers and their baggage
for biosecurity breaches.”
Mr Sutton said that according to an Auditor-General’s report, this government is now spending $50 million extra a year
on baseline biosecurity funding than previous governments.
“Primary production is the cornerstone of the New Zealand economy, and the government is working hard to ensure our
country is kept free from pests and diseases that could devastate trees, crops, and animals.”
ENDS