6. Biosecurity Management—Warning Over Importation of Animal Excrement and Myrtle RustRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister for Primary IndustriesBiosecurity Management—Warning Over Importation of Animal Excrement and Myrtle Rust6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister for Primary Industries: Is it a fact that he has received serious warnings to New Zealand's biosecurity over the importation of excrement from horses cattle and chickens and ignored these serious warnings?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Associate Minister for Primary Industries): on behalf of the Minister for Primary Industries: I have referred a number of submissions and correspondence about mushroom substrate to Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) officials and officials have been taking them all very seriously. I have not ignored any submissions or correspondence. All have been referred to my officials for consideration.Rt Hon Winston Peters: What does it take to be prosecuted by this Government when Mercer Mushrooms was granted a permit on 25 June 2015 to import compost made of oats hay urea gypsum and mushroom spawn that a tip off later revealed contained incredibly high-risk animal manure?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: There were some allegations that were made by a competitor. When they were made aware MPI undertook a thorough investigation to look at the issue and establish any facts before taking action.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it normal practice for his ministry to take 4 months to action a tip off then do absolutely nothing about that tip off despite confirming serious breaches of the biosecurity legislation and potential fraud relating to altered and backdated manufacturers certificates?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: There was as I said an allegation that was made. MPI made inquiries about the substance and was advised about the content. There was further questioning and the MPI equivalent authority overseas then provided additional information which has led now to action that MPI has taken.Rt Hon Winston Peters: When this country's biosecurity is critical to its economic future if MPI sent an email on 6 November 2015 saying We were not aware of the two pathogens that you identified."—this to local mushroom producers who had flagged serious concerns over imported mushroom spawn—why did it take a further 6 months for the imports to stop?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said before the overseas body that is the MPI equivalent had stated when originally asked that those items that were animal matter were not contained in the mushroom substrate. Under further investigations it was found that it did and that has triggered the import health standards process.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is he right and DairyNZ wrong when it wrote: "Animal manure can contain the infectious agents for a number of economically important animal diseases for example foot and mouth disease as well as weeds seeds animal parasites and micro-organisms. DairyNZ is of the view that animal manure products should not be imported in New Zealand."? Is he right and it wrong?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said before once the matter was identified as animal matter the imports were stopped immediately and an import health standard has been triggered. Officials have identified a number of potential diseases that could be contained and that standard will not be approved unless officials are confident that the risks can be mitigated.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is this Minister saying that the imports were stopped immediately when all the evidence plainly before her is that it took 6 months to stop and why did the taxpayers foot the bill for his officials to fly to Europe and then create a standard so preposterous that it defies common sense?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: As I said MPI has been working with the overseas competent authority. As soon as it was determined that there were animal products in this substrate further shipments were suspended. For the shipments that were already on the water the product was treated. MPI also back-checked previous shipments of the substrate and could not find any issues. Given the complaint that was made by a competitor it was appropriate that MPI undertook a detailed investigation and established all facts before taking further action.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is this Minister referring to a competitor when the draft import health standard for what is "crap" failed to address any of the concerns raised by mushroom producers—plural—DairyNZ and the New Zealand Equine Health Association? Or is importing the excrement of cattle horses and chickens really a metaphor for his performance as a Minister?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: It is a detailed process for an import health standard to be considered. I am hoping the member is aware that actually all the parties that he has referred to are consulted in this process. I hope they have submitted. No decision has been reached because the consideration of the submissions is still open.Rt Hon Winston Peters: On this question of biosecurity is the Minister for Primary Industries going to make a statement about myrtle rust being found on Raoul Island which poses a mortal threat to iconic New Zealand native species like pōhutukawa mānuka rātā and possibly kauri for example? Is the Minister going to make a statement about that?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: This Government does take biosecurity very seriously which is why a complaint like this is acted on—officials take action.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. On this serious matter what is one to glean from that answer—that the Minister will make a statement or will not make a statement?Mr SPEAKER: The question was very difficult to understand. The Minister then has addressed the question. If the member is not happy with it he proceeds with further supplementaries—if he had any left. On this particular occasion he has not got any more today.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is my very point. We have a limited number of supplementary questions. To be fair to put out the prospect of further questions when the Minister has evaded an answer is hardly from the point of view of the public disclosure of important information fair itself.Mr SPEAKER: I have on many occasions advised the member that if he can tighten his questions then—[Interruption] Order!—I could assist him. But when there are questions like the member has asked it is difficult for me to assist him.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Can I avail myself of your literary understanding now? Could you possibly tell me how I could have tightened that question any closer?Mr SPEAKER: I am very happy to give the member a tutorial on—[Interruption] Order! If the member would like it I am happy to give him my services free of charge over a cup of coffee."