‘No second chance': Opposition questions safety of US beef imports
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed on Thursday that Australia would remove the ban on American beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico after a decade-long review.
Defending the move, the Albanese government has denied the timing has anything to do with drawn-out tariff exemption talks with the US.
'There is no second chance when it comes to protecting Australia's livestock from biosecurity threats,' former Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume said on 7News on Friday.
'If it's 99.9 per cent safe that means that there is a one-in-1000 chance it isn't safe. It's not unreasonable to ask what it is that's changed and to understand what the decision has been based upon, to see those documents.'
Senator Hume kept up the attack on the government over the timing of the concession.
'What is it that Australia is gaining out of this decision? Is it because we want to secure that tariff exemption with Donald Trump? If that's the case, be explicit about it,' she said.
Appearing opposite Senator Hume, Health Minster Mark Butler said Australia's biosecurity officials who assessed the US system were not making political decisions.
'I'm surprised that the same officials who have been serving governments of both political persuasions, very high-grade biosecurity officials, are being questioned by the National Party in this way,' he said.
The Nationals have called for a review of the decision.
'This was a biosecurity decision, made by the same officials who made the same decision in relation to US cattle under the former government. It was not a trade decision,' Mr Butler said.
The major concern about US beef coming into Australia is animals born in Canada and Mexico; countries with looser biosecurity rules.
'The American systems were assessed by our independent officials over the last several months and found to be up to scratch,' Mr Butler said.
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