Question - TT Line - Procedures for checking trucks

Tuesday 12 December 2023

Ms ARMITAGE question to the MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND WATER, Ms PALMER

[2.33 p.m.]

With regards to TT-Line and trucks coming off the vessels, I have been told that there are occasions when random trucks - perhaps someone who is not a regular truck driver on the TT-Line - does not know they have to stop.  A truck will be there being checked and another truck will go straight past.  I am told that when the inspectors are asked what they are going to do about it, they say there is nothing they can do.  Can you explain the situation with regard to trucks actually going through and not being checked?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the member for the question.  I have sought some advice relating to your question and I have been advised that Biosecurity attends all primary entry points for traveller and freight pathways seven days a week to manage biosecurity risks.  That includes livestock and other animals but also personal effects, vehicles and machinery, fresh produce, seafood and general freight. 

Biosecurity Tasmania (BT) uses a variety of intervention methods to detect and manage biosecurity risks, including pre‑border documentary screening, processing travellers at entry points, checking freight at dedicated inspection points and surveillance at industry premises.  BT attends all arrivals of the regular freight vessel services to conduct surveillance and has systems in place to undertake more detailed inspections on the freight they discharge.  BT has a longstanding partnership in place with TT-Line to undertake pre‑border screening, before a vehicle is on the boat.  That is, pre‑border screening of travellers and cargo departing from Geelong.  That is where we have to have intensive surveillance to see what is coming into Tasmania.  Both parties recognise the importance of this relationship in providing education to travellers and reducing the risk of biosecurity matter reaching Tasmania, to keep risks offshore.  This system enables risk matter to be flagged to biosecurity inspectors operating at the border prior to arrival, providing inspectors time to implement optimal inspection and compliance strategies. 

Under the Biosecurity Act 2019, all travellers, transporters and freight forwarders transporting matters into Tasmania have what is known as a General Biosecurity Duty (GBD).  A GBD reinforces that everyone has a role to play in protecting our unique environment and primary industries against biosecurity risks.  In practice, it means everyone dealing with animals or plants must take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent, eliminate or minimise biosecurity risks.  If they are travelling with livestock, this would include ensuring the animals are fit to travel, free of any prohibited biosecurity matter, are accompanied by any required documentation and are presented to a biosecurity inspector at the point of entry. 

I am not sure if the information that has been shared with you.  It could be that they have been inspected prior to -

Ms ARMITAGE - No, it has not, so when you sit down I will ask a supplementary question. 

This is supplementary on my first one.  Thank you for the response from the minister.  It was short notice too, as I only forwarded it to the minister last evening, so it is a little difficult.

No, I am told the people who have bought the problem to me are regular travellers.  They bring people's trucks over regularly.  When you get your ticket, it states you need to go through biosecurity.  They have said that on many occasions these trucks are not pre‑checked when they are parked being checked and the trucks do not realise there is a process.  I am not saying anyone does it on purpose.  Their point was that people are actually doing it because they do not realise and have not read the ticket.  It might be that whoever bought the ticket and the truck driver are a different person.  They had told that when they had asked, 'What are you going to do about that truck that just gone through?', the inspectors have basically said, 'What can we do?'  I understand some are pre‑checked, but obviously there are some that are not pre‑checked.

It is difficult.  I appreciate the answer to that question, given the information is coming late.  Perhaps it is more a question of what the inspectors will do in the future.  It is my understanding, as the trucks go off, they go a certain distance away from the actual checks in Devonport.  They are on a public area and the other trucks just go around those being checked.  It is an issue and an issue for those doing the right thing, if some of them are going and not being checked and could be a risk to our state.  I will not expect an answer from you now, unless you want to, because I do have a further question.

Ms PALMER - Biosecurity is exceptionally important us in Tasmania, we have heavily invested in it.  I raised the concerns you sent through to me last night and made sure the department was aware of what you have raised.  They came back to me with a comprehensive overview of how this is meant to work.  I have raised some of the concerns you expressed yesterday with them.