Shane Ardern
National Biosecurity Spokesman

2 September 2003

Govt must go further on biosecurity

The Government must go further than today's announcement to increase biosecurity research funding if it is to protect New Zealand from ever-increasing incursions, says National's Biosecurity spokesman Shane Ardern.

"Today's announcement is only a drop in the bucket compared to the substantial amounts that have been spent battling the Painted Apple Moth and the Asian Gypsy Moth," says Mr Ardern.

"New Zealand needs an emergency response capability to ensure that we can shut-down potentially fatal incursions such as Foot and Mouth.

"While we acknowledge the investment in research funding, this will not fix this gaping hole in our biosecurity policy. We simply do not have the ability to quickly deal with large, dangerous incursions."

"It's been nothing more than dumb luck that's saved us from more serious economic damage to date. For the sake of our economy the Government needs to protect our primary industries. Tinkering at the edges will not do this," says Mr Ardern.

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