5. Mycoplasma Bovis—AdviceHon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister for BiosecurityMycoplasma Bovis—Advice5. Hon NATHAN GUY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister for Biosecurity: Does he stand by all his statements and actions in relation to Mycoplasma bovis?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Biosecurity): Yes and in particular I stand by my statement of the shameful inaction of that member to develop an animal tracing system that works because National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) has let us down immensely through the whole Mycoplasma bovis response.Hon Nathan Guy: Does he agree with his senior officials in the select committee last week who said We were prepared for this—yes we were." knowing that biosecurity funding in the 2017 Budget was the highest ever at $248 million?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I don't agree with them. I don't think they were prepared. A lot of changes had to be made by this Government and we exposed a total inability of the National Animal Identification and Tracing system because that Government and that member refused to implement it properly.Hon Nathan Guy: What specific recommendations were contained in the most recent technical advisory group report he has received?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I can't repeat all of them—I don't have the report in front of me—other than to say that at that point eradication was still possible. They are convening today. I hope that they come back with a similar recommendation. However the goal posts have shifted. We have a lot more infected farms a lot more unfortunate farmers are under huge pressure and the inability of our National Animal Identification and Tracing system has made this job far more difficult. Hon Nathan Guy: What specific scientific advice has he received that has caused him to repeatedly defer making a decision on eradication or long-term management—specific scientific advice?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Part of the scientific advice is the fact that more farms are infected. I don't know whether the member's noticed that but we've certainly disclosed as much information as we get to industry leaders. This afternoon I'm meeting with industry leaders. We're happy to share all the information we have. If that member has an idea perhaps he should have put it in place when he was in Government.Hon Nathan Guy: When will he make a decision on what option will be funded when the Budget is two days away hundreds of thousands of dairy cattle have already begun farm movements and farmers are screaming out for certainty right now?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I can absolutely appreciate the pressure on farmers. Farmers who are shifting their stock—if they're not under a notice of direction they are still able to shift their stock. What I would recommend is that they adhere strictly to the legal NAIT requirements. I suggest that they take sound biosecurity measures when they're shifting their stock and they know where they're shifting to. This is all basic information if you run a proper farming system and a good biosecurity system. Unfortunately the previous Government never told farmers the right instructions.Hon Shane Jones: What reports has the Minister received about NAIT recently?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: One of the most concerning reports I've heard is that properties of significance in the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak were set to undergo NAIT compliance activities in 2015 and compliance officers were discouraged from carrying that out. Maybe the previous Minister can explain that.Hon Shane Jones: In light of that report what can the Minister confirm as to the reasons as to why there was such a level of inattention and inactivity—political interference?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: There has been a comprehensive review of NAIT carried out. It was completed at the end of 2016. The organisation under the Government's watch sat on that report for one year. It only released that after I threatened legal action. And can I say that the 38 recommendations in that will all improve the system; 23 of those recommendations will be followed through by this Government and changes made to improve it as quickly as we can. I don't know why the previous Government didn't do the same.Hon Nathan Guy: Why will it take the Minister two months to get advice from his 2600 officials regarding the NAIT recommendations—if there is so much urgency why doesn't he put the House into urgency and change the law and the regulations and get on with it?Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is not a parliamentary question and most certainly cannot be addressed to you in the way that fool did.SPEAKER: Yeah I've—the question was out of order. It's not the first question today that's been out of order and the questions that are out of order have not only come from one side of the House. I've been trying to let things flow a little bit. This is an important issue and at the core of the member's albeit not well-phrased question was something which the Minister could understand and respond to.Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Sorry could I have the question again please because I just missed it in the hullabaloo.SPEAKER: Well the member can have it again and maybe the member could have a go at making it in order as he did it.Hon Nathan Guy: If there is so much urgency around the NAIT recommendations why is it going to take two months after the Minister received the report to get advice from his officials when if this was a serious matter like the Minister is proposing he could put the House into urgency and get on with it?Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I can assure you that every single official in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and now Biosecurity New Zealand is focusing on containment and possible eradication of Mycoplasma bovis. That report which I leveraged out of NAIT Ltd will be actioned as quickly as possible. The question is why did that member not take action when he was given advice in 2015?Darroch Ball: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Responding to the Hon Gerry Brownlee's request last week in this House I seek leave to introduce the Farm Debt Mediation Bill—a member's bill in my name—and for it to be set down as members' order of the day No. 1.SPEAKER: I'm going to ask the member to do that at the end of question time rather than break up question time now.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Why? He's done it now. What are we waiting for?SPEAKER: Because my view is that when matters come up in the week afterwards they should come up at the appropriate time which is the beginning or end of question time not after a particular question. Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Well I don't want to question your decision making. It wouldn't be something that I would do. However—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! I accept the reason for the laughter but it's got to be contained.Hon Gerry Brownlee: You just made the point that that was a very serious question and you've allowed a certain flow across the House that I think was in my opinion generous towards the Government. The reality is there are thousands of farming families out there who are likely to face significant hardship because of this issue. The bill that is being proposed by Darroch Ball could well see those farmers see little bit more light on the day then they perhaps are at the moment. It therefore is appropriate—SPEAKER: OK. The member will resume his seat. He's convinced me of the urgency of the situation and that half an hour might make a difference in it. I am going to let the member seek leave and put the question to the House. But I will remind Mr Brownlee that when he takes his points of order he will not reflect on my chairmanship. My view is being flexible with an Opposition member who was clearly breaching the rules as was pointed out by the most senior member in the House correctly—giving him a bit of leeway is not favouring the Government. Darroch Ball have another go.Question time interrupted."