Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (5:43 PM) -I rise to comment on this issue, with which I have been involved since the start. People in the Senate will be aware that it was my disallowance that went on the Notice Paper straight after the budget. I note with interest that it is Senator Fielding and Senator Colbeck who have taken over my motion, because the one on the books that Senator Colbeck had did not do the job. It did not get it right.

Senator MILNE (Tasmania) (5:04 PM) -I rise to support the remarks of the chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Senator Nash, and note that since 2001 the government has provided a 40 per cent contribution towards the cost of providing export inspection and certification services to the meat, grain, fish, dairy, live animal and horticultural export industries. The cost of the services provided was met through a 60 per cent cost recovery from industry and a 40 per cent government contribution.

 RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Senator «MILNE» -I wanted to take up the issue of the government's decision to implement the Beale review recommendations-

Senator Sherry -Put them in the fridge, Bill. They are smelling a bit.

You can now track the spread of swine flu on Google Maps.

The Greens are calling on the Rudd Government to move swiftly in educating Australians on how to avoid swine flu in case the outbreak reaches our shores.

Senator Brown said:
There are simple measures for us all to be aware of from the outset, like:

STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT - 23/02/2009 - AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY PORTFOLIO - Australian Quarantine Inspection Service

Australian Greens climate change and biosecurity spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today condemned the agriculture policy released today by Peter McGauran for providing too little too late on weeds, pests and quarantine, and completely failing to even mention climate change.

Senator Milne said, "Mr McGauran's plan to 'capitalise on a return to normal weather patterns' should stand next to his leader, Mark Vaile's recently repeated denial that the drought is linked to climate change as a complete betrayal of rural and regional Australia.