The Northern Rivers Times Rural News Edition 107

Increased surveillance and testing of meat and animal products

Biosecurity vigilance brought to the fore

As part of the Australian Government’s response to the spread of animal diseases in the region, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has increased its surveillance and testing of meat and other animal products, both at the border and through targeted checking of retail outlets. Some pork products have been removed from supermarket shelves after viral fragments of both foot and mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF) were detected during testing. This find does not change Australia’s disease-free status for FMD and ASF. There is no threat to human health from these diseases. During a recent purchasing and testing campaign of food for sale in supermarkets

around Australia, one sample tested positive for FMD and ASF viral fragments– the test does not indicate live virus. This sample was from pork floss offered for sale in Melbourne.

Pork floss is a processed, dried meat product that can be imported if it meets strict import conditions that mitigate the risk of exotic diseases, including ASF and FMD. The product was processed, but investigations have not found evidence that the treatment was to Australia’s requirements. Out of an abundance of caution, officers have seized product from all linked supermarkets and a warehouse in Melbourne. If the public have any of this pork floss product, please return them to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries

and Forestry office in your capital city. If you are unsure about a concerning product or would like further information, please contact the department. A number of other pork products for retail sale around Australia have tested positive for ASF viral fragments. Officers are in the process of securing products and undertaking investigations. Further information will be provided when these investigations have been completed. The department has also been testing meat products seized at the border from travellers and through the mail. Recently a passenger was intercepted with a beef product. When prompted by a biosecurity officer, the passenger declared a number of items of

biosecurity concern at the border and was issued with a warning. The seized beef item tested positive for FMD viral fragments. The public, retailers and importers are asked to be vigilant in their purchases, to play their part in protecting Australia from these terrible diseases.

The government will continue to step up this surveillance activity and will prosecute breaches of biosecurity rules to the full extent of the law. This is across all pathways, not just travellers through airports. Pig owners must not feed meat, animal products or imported dairy goods to their pigs. This is called swill feeding and is illegal throughout Australia. Foot and mouth disease is considered one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity threats to livestock and an incursion of FMD or ASF would have severe consequences for Australia’s animal health, trade and economy and our regional communities. Breaches of Australia’s biosecurity are taken very seriously. Penalties

for those who do the wrong thing include imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to $1,110,000 (or $5,550,000 for corporate entities) or both. Everyone has a role in preventing harmful pests and diseases from entering Australia. If you are travelling, importing goods or ordering goods through the mail, be aware of what is permitted entry to Australia. You can do this by checking the website at https:// www.agriculture.gov. au/biosecurity-trade/ travelling/bringingmailing-goods. The department can be contacted on 1800 900 090 or online at www. agriculture.gov.au/about/ contact/online-enquiry.

NSW LEGAL PROFESSION’S REGIONAL RETENTION ISSUES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Law Society of NSW is promoting regional, rural and rmote legal career opportunities, as well as responding to recent data revealing persistent gender pay and career gaps. President of the Law Society of NSW Joanne van der Plaat said the 2021 Annual Profile of Solicitors in NSW published this month provides an invaluable opportunity for NSW law firms to share ‘best practice’ on remuneration and retention of legal talent. Ms van der Plaat expressed concern at data in the profile which showed only 12 per cent of NSW solicitors practice in regional areas and encouraged more regional firms to sign up the Charter. “As a regional practicioner myself, I’m keenly aware of the potentially devastating consequences of people in these areas not being able to access justice. “The most recent Australian Census

revealed more than a third of the NSW population lives outside greater Sydney. “The 2021Profile data shows barely more than one in ten solicitors in the state practice in areas outside the Sydney CBD and suburbs,” Ms van der Plaat said. “As co-chair of the Law Council of Australia’s (LCA) Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR) Lawyers Committee, I last year launched the RRR Lawyers and Communities National Strategic Plan. “The Law Society has been working with the Law Council throughout 2022 to develop tools which seek to address recruitment barriers and administrative hurdles for smaller RRR legal workplaces on hiring and onboarding new employees. “Over the coming months, the Law Society will engage with signatories of our Charter for the Advancement of Women and other leading

law firms, to gather information about how they are currently addressing equal pay and flexibility in the workplace,” Ms van der Plaat said. “The Profile shows pay gaps emerge with early career lawyers with the disparity increasing in line with seniority. “The Law Society intends to examine this trend in detail and consider how best to address gender equality in senior roles.” For the fifth consecutive year, female solicitors outnumber males, but fewer females occup senior roles. For example, the number of male law firm equity partners outnumber their female counterparts by almost three to one. “Remuneration and career opportunities are vital to retaining high performing staff, which can improve productivity, performance, competitveness and growth,” Ms van der Plaat said.

Grants for innovative farming and climate change projects

Tweed farmers keen to improve their farm’s health and tackle climate change are encouraged to put projects forward for the latest round of Council’s Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program. Grants of up to $4,000 are available for eligible activities that trial or lead to the adoption of improved farming practices with applications accepted until 30 August. The small grants program has been running since 2018 and Council recently committed to another 3 years of the program which will see it run until 2025. Over the past 4 years, Council has supported a number of quality projects initiated by local producers who have improved farming practices and reduced their impact on the land. Council’s Program Leader – Sustainable Agriculture Eli Szandala said it was great news to see this valuable program continuing for another 3 years in the Tweed. “We know that good farming practice is essential for maintaining the viability of our family farms and protecting our

unique biodiversity in the Tweed. The future of farming is also critical right now for food security and affordability,” Mr Szandala said. “Local and world events over the last few years have really highlighted how important sustainable local food production is for community wellbeing but also for the environment, employment and the local economy.” Previous grant recipients have initiated projects such as rotational grazing systems and multi-species pasture cropping to regenerate grazing land. Other projects have involved excluding cattle from creeks and the use of biological controls in vegetable production to reduce the reliance on chemicals. “We are particularly interested in supporting projects that have lasting

environmental benefits and to help farmers better prepare for the ever-increasing climate disruptions,” Mr Szandala said. A recipient of a previous grant, Dr Victor Pires is a horticultural producer and syntropic farmer from Uki who used the funding to regenerate a lantana-infested area into a productive food forest. Dr Pires was able to integrate native tree species into his farming for production and biodiversity benefits which was extremely successful. To view the grant guidelines and case studies of previous grant recipients, visit tweed. nsw.gov.au/agriculture or contact the program leader – sustainable agriculture on (02) 6670 2400 for further information.

34 LOCAL BRIDGE UPGRADES BOOST ACCESS ACROSS REGIONS

The NSW Government has today announced the first timber bridges that will receive funding through Round Two of the $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said $49.25

million has been awarded to replace 34 timber bridges with concrete bridges across 21 Local Government Areas (LGA). “Our government is getting on with the job of building infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather events and protect

our supply chain,” Mr Farraway said. “That’s why we’re pushing ahead with Round 2A of the Fixing Country Bridges program in LGAs where councils are ready to get work, so these projects can get started. “We’ll continue to work

with councils across the rest of the state, many of which have been hit hard by natural disasters like floods to firm up the remaining bridges. “With each bridge replaced, we’re opening up more efficient routes for heavy vehicles from freight

to the local school bus and RFS tankers. “Improving access for freight companies helps them to reduce their operational costs, which will ultimately reduce costs for NSW families when buying the goods at the local supermarket.”

A total of $290 million has been awarded to councils under Round 1 to replace more than 400 timber structures across the state. The outcome of all other applications submitted in Round 2 is expected to be announced towards the end of 2022.

The NR Times Rural News