Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (part 2 of 2) — hearing of 27 October 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (part 2 of 2)

27 October 2026

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Contents updated at 20:22 provisional

Senator Paul Scarr presses DAFF officials on discrepancies between the National EPA guide and advice given to farmers, concerns about regulatory overreach, and feedback from AgForce on time and cost burdens. Officials outline their cooperation with the National EPA, engagement with industry and NFF, acknowledge correspondence via the minister, and discuss efforts to align Commonwealth and state obligations through bilateral agreements so landholders deal with a single regulator.

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Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Senate estimates hearing

00:00

National EPA land clearing guide and impacts on farmers

00:00

Questions from Senator Scarr on EPA guide, regulatory certainty and engagement with AgForce

00:00

National biosecurity and food security strategy development

08:05

Senator Canavan on biosecurity and food security strategy funding, outputs and co-design process

08:05

Rushy Lagoon project, ACCUs and foreign investment

11:49

Senator Canavan on Rushy Lagoon ACCUs, overseas use and risks to food production

11:49

National EPA land clearing guide and impacts on farmers (cont.)

16:04

Senator Canavan on definition of land clearing, grazing and continuing use provisions

16:04

EU deforestation regulation and Australian exports

21:08

Senator Canavan on EUDR start date, low-risk status and exporter compliance tools

21:08

Senator Canavan on EU forest mapping, deforestation definitions and NLIS geolocation

23:48

Senator Canavan on EUDR cut-off date, regrowth clearing and new land development

28:55

Senator Canavan on Australian government stance on EUDR and EU free trade agreement impacts

30:16

National biosecurity and food security strategy development (cont.)

35:37

Question from Senator Tyrrell on broader food security systems and supply chains

35:37

Question from Senator Tyrrell on industry pressures and role of the food security strategy

38:46

Question from Senator Tyrrell on integrating food system work to prepare for future challenges

39:55

Question from Senator Tyrrell on managing international pressures and critical input supply

41:17

Question from Senator Tyrrell on lessons from recent disruptions for food security policy

43:13

Question from Senator Tyrrell on government announcements to strengthen sovereign food security capability

44:42

Question from Senator Tyrrell on strengthening access to essential agricultural inputs beyond fuel

45:44

Live sheep phase-out assistance package expenditure

47:06

Senator Canavan on spending of the live sheep phase-out assistance package

47:06

Senator Canavan on high lamb prices, low flock numbers and live sheep policy impacts

54:36

Cellar door grants program and wine sector transition support

01:01:23

Senator Canavan on cellar door grant rounds and support for wine industry adjustment

01:01:23

Russian timber imports and Illegal Logging Prohibition Act compliance

01:06:12

Senator Canavan on Russian timber testing, Illegal Logging Act enforcement and sanctions

01:06:12

Live sheep phase-out assistance package expenditure (cont.)

01:10:03

Senator Canavan on Sheep Producers Australia funding and Renney advisory report

01:10:03

APVMA cost recovery reforms and industry fees

01:11:03

Senator Canavan on proposed increases to APVMA fees and cost recovery

01:11:03

Working holiday maker visas and agricultural labour shortages

01:13:51

Senator Canavan on working holiday maker visa delays and impacts on agriculture

01:13:51

Regional forestry agreements, forestry growth funding and native forest carbon methods

01:15:28

Senator Canavan on RFAs, national environmental standards and Forestry Growth Fund

01:15:28

Senator Canavan on native forest carbon method consultation

01:19:25

Follow-up questions on Tasmanian RFAs if no bilateral agreement is reached

01:19:48

Biosecurity assessment of potential banana imports

01:38:01

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on Philippines banana farm visit findings and disease risks

01:38:01

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on BIRA timeline and statutory deadline

01:41:22

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on ABARES economic modelling for banana pest incursions

01:44:56

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on Philippine registration system and implementing risk measures

01:47:02

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on engagement with Coffs Coast and northern NSW banana growers

01:48:46

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on costs and fairness of responses to banana disease incursions

01:49:38

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on jobs, economic impacts and food security risks from banana imports

01:51:52

H5 bird flu preparedness, response and funding

01:57:34

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on total Commonwealth funding for H5 bird flu preparedness and response

01:57:34

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on unspent H5 preparedness and response funding across programs

02:00:21

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on state and territory cost‑sharing under the H5 wildlife National Management Agreement

02:08:36

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on support for private veterinarians dealing with H5 in wildlife

02:09:27

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on support for councils, wildlife carers and volunteer groups in the H5 response

02:12:34

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on current H5 wildlife event numbers by state and poultry impacts

02:15:32

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on veterinary surge capacity and national vet workforce shortages

02:18:16

Question of Senator Paul Scarr on H5 poultry eradication policy, potential vaccination and rainwater safety

02:24:22

Questions of Senator Bilyk on definition of H5 wildlife events, Tasmanian cases and Macquarie Island monitoring

02:26:47

Question of Senator David Pocock on adequacy of bird flu funding levels

02:34:41

Question of Senator David Pocock on absence of state funding requests for H5 response

02:35:46

Question of Senator David Pocock on lack of data on numbers of wildlife deaths from H5

02:36:22

Question of Senator David Pocock on DCCEEW’s role and mortality data needs

02:42:49

Question of Senator David Pocock on defining and detecting mass mortality events

02:44:12

Question of Senator David Pocock on what success in combating H5 bird flu looks like

02:45:37

Question of Senator David Pocock and response by Minister McCarthy on perception government only prioritises agriculture

02:47:43

Fire ant detection at Sydney intermodal facility — surveillance responsibilities and response timeline

02:49:05

Question of Senator Ross Cadell on responsibility for checking fire ant sentinel lures at Sydney site

02:49:05

Question of Senator Ross Cadell on surveillance lures, public communication timing and spread risk at Sydney fire ant site

02:52:52

National fire ant eradication program, environmental impacts and prevention strategy

03:06:09

Question of Senator Roberts on fire ant eradication program impacts, governance and bee deaths

03:06:09

Carp biocontrol virus research, trials and 2028 decision timeline

03:18:33

Question of Senator David Pocock on carp virus release timetable and research program

03:18:33

Florfenicol use in Tasmanian aquaculture and compensation for affected fisheries

03:21:01

Question of Senator Babet on florfenicol impacts on Tasmanian wild fisheries and compensation

03:21:01

Feral deer impacts in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

03:22:36

Question of Senator Babet on feral deer monitoring and World Heritage obligations in Tasmania

03:22:36

Phosphine exposure limits and grain fumigation/export implications

04:29:12

Question of Senator Matthew Canavan on phosphine exposure limits and impacts on grain fumigation and exports

04:29:12

Pineapple imports from India and Indonesia — biosecurity risk assessment and disease risks

04:33:19

Question of Senator Matthew Canavan on pineapple imports from India and Indonesia and associated disease risks

04:33:19

Wild dog coordinator funding and national feral pest programs

04:46:44

Question of Senator Ross Cadell on wild dog coordinator funding and feral pest program coordination

04:46:44

National Rabbit Biocontrol Project funding and program extension

05:05:26

Question of Senator Matthew Canavan on National Rabbit Biocontrol Project funding and program horizon

05:05:26

Varroa mite spread, management costs and bee biosecurity programs

05:08:33

Question of Senator Matthew Canavan on Varroa mite spread, costs and national response settings

05:08:33

Question of Senator Colbeck on deformed wing virus pathways, honey and semen imports, Varroa treatments and pollination impacts

05:14:44

Yellow crazy ant eradication programs and funding in Queensland

05:26:04

Question of Senator Susan McDonald on funding continuity for yellow crazy ant eradication in Townsville

05:26:04

Biosecurity self‑assessed clearance charge on parcels and cost recovery

05:29:28

Question of Senator Colbeck on self‑assessed clearance charge revenues, expenses and over‑recovery

05:29:28

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (part 2 of 2)

27 October 2026

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee Tue, 27 Oct 2026 Australian Parliament

00:00 - 00:09

Speaker 1

We'd be very happy, we have a regular dialogue with the National EPA on these matters and I'm sure they'd also be concerned to understand them as well.

00:09 - 00:52

Speaker 2

Okay. So one of the concerns is the guide says X and then you have a conversation with the National EPA and it's not just X, it's also X plus Y plus Z. Right. So things go further than perhaps what the guide provides.

And obviously in this context, given the consequences and given people want to do the right thing, you can understand why there's concern if there's a disconnect between the guide and what people are being told by members within the National EPA. You appreciate the issue?

00:52 - 01:16

Speaker 1

Appreciate the issue and obviously the intention of our involvement is to work with the National EPA and work with industry to ensure that the material available and also the guidance that's available, I guess in person or on the phone, does deliver that clarity and therefore that regulatory certainty that the agriculture sector is interested in.

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