1 March 2013
Biosecurity report recommendations should be taken on board

The Public Service Association is welcoming the Auditor General’s report into biosecurity saying it highlights the importance of proper staffing and resourcing in the protection of our borders.

The report raises concerns about the Ministry of Primary Industry’s preparedness to deal with high risk incursions and says better planning around resourcing and capacity is needed.

PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff says staff have been raising similar concerns for some time.

“Border security services have undergone a lot of change and it’s no secret that they have been very stretched due to what was a sinking lid policy on frontline jobs. The addition of 46 new biosecurity officers late last year was very welcome, but the reality is those extra jobs only take staffing back to where it was four years ago”.

“Recommendations in the report around better planning would definitely help identify areas where resources are needed and show up any shortfalls in capacity,” he says.

The report also makes the point that spending on biosecurity is at its lowest in five years and that constant restructuring of biosecurity services and the merger into a different agency has affected operations.

The PSA hopes the Auditor General’s recommendations will be taken on board.

Richard Wagstaff says New Zealand needs a biosecurity service which is well-resourced and can meet its responsibilities.

“We want to work with the MPI to address the issues which have been raised in the report and make the necessary improvements so our biosecurity services can be as robust and effective as possible,” Mr Wagstaff says.

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