NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Ian McColl has welcomed $163.9 million funding for biosecurity in the upcoming state budget.
The NSW Government announced the record spend in response to a global increase in the volume, complexity and severity of biosecurity outbreaks, which required early intervention and investment in new techniques and technologies.
“It’s great to see the government listen to our warnings on biosecurity threats, which have the potential to wreak enormous damage to our economy,” Mr McColl said.
“Food and mouth disease, for example, would punch a huge hole in exports and is perilously close to our shores.
“We know what we need to do on biosecurity, and this is a positive step from the state government.”
Mr McColl said NSW Farmers was keen to see the detail of the state’s funding arrangements and wanted to see co-ordination with the newly-elected federal government’s promise to deliver a long-term, sustainable funding that will go directly to strengthening Australia’s biosecurity system.
