List of recommendations

Recommendation 1

6.20    The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources introduce procedural guidelines that allow it to communicate confidentially with jurisdictional counterparts while pursuing biosecurity investigations. Such procedures should protect the integrity of investigations, while alerting other jurisdictions to heightened disease risk.

Recommendation 2

6.29    The committee recommends that the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources introduce amendments to the Biosecurity Act 2015, which provide the Director of Biosecurity with appropriate secure and advise powers in relation to specified goods or classes of goods.

Recommendation 3

6.40    The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources implement an ongoing diagnostic testing training program for aquatic diseases with international trading partners, to assist those countries in improving their scientific disease testing capabilities, in line with the testing utilised in Australian laboratories.

Recommendation 4

6.57    The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources consider regulations and enforcement mechanisms for the improved labelling of imported frozen raw prawns intended for human consumption. Particular consideration should be given to appropriate signage at the point of sale in the retail sector.

Recommendation 5

6.58    The committee recommends that the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources secure the co‑operation of all jurisdictions to undertake an education campaign on the risks associated with using raw prawns intended for human consumption as bait.

Recommendation 6

6.65    The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources urgently complete its review into the import conditions for prawns and prawn products. The review should consider updates to the 2009 Import Risk Analysis on the basis of scientific evidence and with regard to the views of other jurisdictions.

Recommendation 7

6.66    The committee recommends that the Secretary of the Department Agriculture and Water Resources allocate sufficient resources in order to complete the review of import conditions for prawns and prawn products as soon as is practicable.

Recommendation 8

6.77    The committee recommends that the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, in collaboration with seafood and aquaculture industries, establish a seafood industry and science consultation group, which has the ability to present its views on biosecurity to relevant state, territory and Commonwealth ministers.

Recommendation 9

6.83    The committee recommends that in developing an aquatic Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement, Animal Health Australia and the Aquatic Deed Working Group consider alternative options to the 'three thirds' funding arrangements.

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