Prosser Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeProsser Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 08 April 2014. Volume:697;Page:16951. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.RICHARD PROSSER (NZ First)to the Minister for Primary Industries: Does he believe that New Zealand’s biosecurity preparations including Biosecurity NZ are sufficiently and adequately resourced to protect New Zealand from biosecurity risks?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries):Yes. As the member will know risk can never be eliminated from any system. That is why the Government has a comprehensive approach to biosecurity—pre-border at the border and post-border. An example of this system in action is the detection of two Queensland male fruit flies caught in biosecurity traps this year—one last week and one in January this year. This is a sign of the system working as it should and I would like to acknowledge both the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Whangarei community for their efforts with this response.Richard Prosser: Given that answer does he believe that the $1.6 million spent on the first fruit fly and potentially the same amount spent on the second fly just discovered would have been better spent on the biosecurity fence at the top of the cliff rather than on the fumble-catch ambulance at the bottom of it?Hon NATHAN GUY: Well that is a two-part question. It is very important that we do a very thorough response and follow international best practices which we are doing with this response similar to the previous response. This is because ultimately we would like to maintain our Queensland fruit fly - free status which is hugely important for the $4 billion horticulture industry in New Zealand.Richard Prosser: Is he concerned at the news that the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University has had its Government funding cut? If so will he work with his Cabinet colleagues to have that funding reinstated; if not why not?Hon NATHAN GUY: That is separate from the Ministry for Primary Industries. That is to do with tertiary education. My understanding is that there has been an independent panel that has assessed that process. For me biosecurity is my No. 1 priority. That is why funding has increased every year since we took over from the Labour Government. Importantly we are focusing on the front line putting in more front-line quarantine inspectors 12 new X-ray machines and new dog detector teams as well.Richard Prosser: Does he consider the $182 million spent on biosecurity to be sufficient given that it represents less than three-quarters of 1 percent of the value of the $25 billion agriculture industry it is supposed to protect without which three-quarters of our economy would not exist?Hon NATHAN GUY: Funding is very important. It is my No. 1 priority as the Minister for Primary Industries because I have to focus on the front line because of our primary producing exporters whom we rely on in this country. That is why we are increasing our presence in front-line quarantine inspectors—another 125 in the last 18 months—why we have 12 new X-ray machines; why we have five new dog detector teams increasing to around 35; and why we also now have Government industry agreements where industry can partner with Government on preparedness and response.Richard Prosser: Does he consider forcing research institutes in this country to seek funding by gaining commercial work on behalf of other Governments because they are not funded sufficiently by this Government to be a prudent approach to biosecurity risk management?Hon NATHAN GUY: I have already addressed that question.Hon Damien O’Connor: Does the continual stream of biosecurity incursions under his watch provide enough evidence of his failure as Minister; or what will it take to prove that cut-backs in staffing and funding have undermined New Zealand’s biosecurity reputation and put our whole economy at risk?Hon NATHAN GUY: I am sick and tired of the rhetoric from the member opposite. What he does not acknowledge are all the incursions that occurred under the Labour Government and if that member wants me to run through them I will now: varroa painted apple moth didymo—the list goes on and on and on.