The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment today released the draft Tasmanian Biosecurity Strategy 2013-17 for stakeholder comment. 
 
Anyone wishing to comment should do so in writing by 26 October or by attending one of the public forums organised by DPIPWE in October in Devonport, Launceston and Hobart.
 
The Minister for Primary Industries, Bryan Green, said that stakeholder involvement was vital for the strategy to succeed.
 
"The key stakeholder organisations have already had some input into the draft strategy, and we are keen to get the views of people whose livelihood is in farming, fishing, growing or selling nursery stock, forestry, land management or any other enterprise that has an interest in biosecurity," Mr Green said.
 
"This is the chance for individuals with a stake in biosecurity to have their say." 
 
Mr Green said that the draft strategy was an update on the current Strategy, which has been in place for the last five years. 
 
"The current model has served Tasmania well, and the new draft proposes building on what we already have in place, rather than any significant change in direction. 
 
The two key elements in the new draft are:  improving the partnership between government and industry in making Tasmania's biosecurity system work; and, reinforcing Tasmania's right to additional biosecurity measures to those of the mainland states.
 
"While we are part of a national biosecurity system, our freedom from many of the pests and diseases that occur on the mainland and the scale and importance of our primary industries to the State's economy means biosecurity is fundamentally important for Tasmania.
 
"Equally, we also need a biosecurity system that adequately protects the unique ecological qualities and economic value of our natural environments," Mr Green said. 
 
"Understandably, many stakeholders have made comment about the biosecurity risk to Tasmania arising from outbreaks on the mainland or proposals at the national level to allow certain imports.
 
"Stakeholders should take the time to read the draft Tasmanian Biosecurity Strategy and have their say," Mr Green said.
 
The strategy is available on the DPIPWE website www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au