The introduction of gene technology regulations and a public awareness campaign is a start. An industry-based committee will be established to guide the implementation of the program and to disseminate the results and market information. Extra staff, detector dog teams and x-ray units at Australia s airports, international mail centres, wharves and container terminals are all paying dividends. In 1998-99, seizures of prohibited goods and materials at the border were running at an annual rate of about 227,000. In the nine months to March 2000 improved techniques had increased seizures to 442,000.
Surveys show that public awareness of Australia s quarantine laws is increasing.
In the majority of other cases, the imports did not compete directly with Australian production due to seasonal differences or other factors. The Australian Horticultural Corporation and the Horticultural Research and Development Corporation will be amalgamated into a new company, Horticulture Australia. Let me now turn to other initiatives that will assist rural and regional Australia Rather than spreading resources too thinly on a broad front, the Government is concentrating its efforts on revitalising services in particular, vital areas of community concern. Health is one of the greatest concerns of people living in regional Australia. Pharmacists will also receive additional support.