O'Connor Damien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeO'Connor Damien: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 13 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11132. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]11.Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour—West Coast - Tasman)to theMinister for Primary Industries: Does he have confidence in the biosecurity system?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for the Environment)on behalf of theMinister for Primary Industries: Yes.Hon Damien O’Connor: Does the Minister agree with the KPMG state of the nation report that assesses that many agribusiness leaders believe “we struggle to score more than a ‘could do better’ in respect of biosecurity”?Hon AMY ADAMS: As I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Primary Industries I cannot give that answer but what I can tell you is that biosecurity is the Minister’s highest priority.Hon Damien O’Connor: How can the Minister claim that it is his highest priority and that we have a world-class biosecurity system when it took a report from two Kiwi farmers on a private trip to alert the ministry to the potential risk of foot-and-mouth disease from contaminated palm kernel expeller from Asia?Hon AMY ADAMS: The Minister responded to the concerns that were raised examined the system and sent officials to investigate and view the facilities in the countries concerned. Those officials have returned and have found that overall there are good systems in place. They have however identified some areas for improvement. Those are now being given immediate effect to.Hon Damien O’Connor: What assurances can the Minister give the New Zealand brassica vegetable growers that their industry is safe from the great white butterfly when infestations around Nelson have soared or does the Minister agree with the Department of Conservation Motueka Area Manager Martin Rodd who said: “It is something that has got away on us.”?Hon AMY ADAMS: Given the width of the primary question I simply do not have that information in front of me.Hon Damien O’Connor: Why should New Zealand pig farmers have to spend a fortune and rely on the judgment of the Supreme Court that was just announced to protect their industry against this Government’s determination to lower the import health standards for pork and allow in high-risk contaminated pork from Canada?Hon AMY ADAMS: On the information I have that matter is still before the courts so it would be inappropriate for me to comment.Hon Damien O’Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I suggest the Minister go and—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon Damien O’Connor: I seek leave to table a report the KPMG Agribusiness Agenda 2013  which identifies biosecurity—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table the KPMG report from 2013. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection.Hon Damien O’Connor: I seek leave to table the reportMalaysian Palm Kernel Industry Study Trip  dated September 2012 which was delivered to the Ministry for Primary Industries by two farmers—Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular report. Is there any objection to that? There is not. It can be tabled. Question No. 12 Jacqui Dean.Hon John Banks: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There is objection.Mr SPEAKER: I apologise. I did not hear the objection. It will now not be tabled.