Sutton Jim: General Debate 
Sutton Jim: General Debate 
[Volume:625;Page:20475] 
Hon JIM SUTTON (Minister for Biosecurity) 
: 
 I move  
That the House take note of miscellaneous business 
. Yesterday a letter was received in the Prime Minister’s office which started an alert. The letter stated that foot-and-mouth disease had been released on Waiheke Island and that a further release would be made if certain things were not done. 
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials the police and the Government believe that this letter is a hoax and I stress that there is no evidence that the virus has indeed been spread. However it is a threat we must take seriously. We are a nation reliant on primary industry. The exports vulnerable to foot-and-mouth disease earn half our total export income. No responsible Government could just ignore a threat such as the one received yesterday. 
Two operations were immediately launched. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry began a biosecurity response and the police are tracking the author of the letter. As of 5 p.m. yesterday a controlled-area notice for Waiheke Island became effective. There are currently six veterinarians two specialist exotic disease investigators and three media liaison staff working on the island. Checkpoints have been established at the two main ferry terminals on the island and nine police officers are present to support ministry staff. Efforts are focusing on the 12 largest properties as those hold the greatest numbers of stock and pose the greatest risk of spread. The Department of Conservation has closed the Stony Batter Historic Reserve to minimise foot traffic through the Man o’War Station. 
Last night Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials were able to contact 18 of the 39 farmers on Waiheke Island. Ministry vets today are making appointments with Waiheke Island farmers to observe livestock for possible signs of foot-and-mouth disease. All stock will be checked every 48 hours for 14 days—the longest possible incubation period for foot-and-mouth disease before clinical symptoms appear. A public meeting to discuss the situation is planned on the island tonight and details of the time and venue are no doubt being advised by the media. I understand that both major TV channels will be present and broadcasting live from the meeting. 
Overnight over 50 trading partner nations including major member countries of the European Union were informed of the situation. Most have expressed appreciation at the early advice confidence in New Zealand’s management of the situation and a desire to be kept informed. Our major trading partners the United States Canada and the European Union have offered assistance. The World Organization for Animal Health the OIE has also been informed and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is working with the farming industry to address its natural concerns. 
I note that the leader of the National Party thinks we should have held off doing anything. He told Television New Zealand and I quote— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Stop telling lies. We won’t have that. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member on my left is a long-serving member. He knows what he has just done is out of order. I ask him to stand withdraw and apologise. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Let me point out to you Mr Speaker that the member who is speaking is an even longer serving member. He should know that misquoting a document that has been placed on the Table of the House constitutes a lie to the House and he should desist. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member is compounding the situation. The member knows that that is a debatable point and I am sure that he will be taking a call in this debate. 
Hon JIM SUTTON 
: I will quote directly from the words of the Leader of the Opposition. This is a direct quote from an unaired TV report which was referred to so we did the elderly gentleman the courtesy of getting the verbatim account of what he said. TV New Zealand asked: “How do you think the Government has handled the issue?” Brash: “Er I am surprised they made a public statement about it all to be frank. If it’s only a hoax they have done a lot of damage to our reputation. I would have thought they would have tried harder to find out if there was any truth in the allegations at all.” That is what the Leader of the Opposition said. He advocated that we tried to keep secret this alleged outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.