Doorstop at Parliament House

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
THURSDAY, 24 JULY 2025

Subjects: US beef imports.

JOURNALIST: Minister, when the Prime Minister in June was asked, "You know, right now they can't import cattle. Some of the cattle might be raised in Mexico or Canada. They're then slaughtered in US. Therefore, you can't bring it into Australia. Is that going to change?" His response was "No, we will not change or compromise any of the issues regarding biosecurity." Is the Prime Minister now incorrect? You've clearly changed and compromised in what you've done this morning.

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: We have not compromised on biosecurity. My department has done a rigorous assessment. This process has now been ongoing for around a decade. The US has been able to import beef into Australia since 2019. In 2020, the US asked for expanded access to include cattle that had been slaughtered in the US but may have come from Canada or Mexico. My department has been doing a rigorous assessment of that in terms of the traceability of that beef and the systems through the US system. My officials have been over in the US this has been a five year process and that process is now -

JOURNALIST: Minister, did Donald Trump's tariff threats have anything to do with this decision?

COLLINS: Well, as I said, this has been the culmination of what has been a ten-year process. The US has been able to bring beef into Australia since 2019. In 2020, they asked for the expanded access. This process now is at conclusion and has taken around five years to conclude. We'll go on over here and then we'll come to here.

JOURNALIST: Can you give a guarantee to Australian beef farmers that no diseases will come into Australia as a result of this decision?

COLLINS: This decision has been purely based on science and a rigorous assessment by my department. Our biosecurity risk assessment process is very robust and I have faith in the officials in my department to do this appropriately. These are experts in the field. Australia's biosecurity system is world-renowned for a reason and this assessment has now been completed.

JOURNALIST: You can't seriously say that this has nothing to do with the Trump Administration, Minister?

JOURNALIST: It seems like a pretty big coincidence that the Trump Administration wants something and then a ten-year review wraps up, you know, a couple of months after that request.

COLLINS: Well, as I've said, the expanded access was asked for in 2020 and they've been able to import beef into Australia since 2019. So, that process now of the expanded access assessment has taken around five years and the process is complete. My department has been briefing and keeping industry up to date with progress the entire time that this assessment has been occurring and that assessment is now completed.

JOURNALIST: Minister, have you been given any additional reassurances by the United States that they are able to keep their beef free from diseases like mad cow disease.

COLLINS: We are assured that the supply chain and the traceability and the safety of any food coming into Australia is safe. The US, of course, has been able to bring beef into Australia since 2019. Our farmers are, of course, exporting already to the United States. We're exporting over $4 billion worth of beef to the United States presently. And our farmers are a net bid beneficiary of our two-way trading system.

JOURNALIST: Thank you. Do you concede that it will help with other trade negotiations with the United States given that the government has made this concession?

COLLINS: This is a decision based on science. It is a decision--

JOURNALIST: Yes, but on the trade question, will it assist with other matters?

COLLINS: That will be determined. But this decision is based on science. It's the culmination of a five-year period.

JOURNALIST: What are the extra tracking and tracing components that the US has put in place? And the Coalition has a specific question about the slaughtering, about whether the cows will be tested before they're slaughtered and then the meat after as well.

COLLINS: So, my department officials have been across in the US, they've gone along the entire supply chain, including in abattoirs and cutting houses in the US to ensure the safety and security of any beef along the supply chain that may come into to Australia. And my experts are assured and are confident that we have this assessment correct and it is based on science.

JOURNALIST: What are the tests, though? Can you guarantee a test before and after the slaughter?

COLLINS: Hang on, I'll go here.

JOURNALIST: Minister, did you brief industry stakeholders ahead of this announcement?

COLLINS: We have been keeping industry informed the entire way of this decision. Industry was briefed by the Department in the usual way and I understand that briefing took place yesterday afternoon.

JOURNALIST: So, just back to Liz's question. What are the actual tests and what are the assurances and will you release this report or advice to government publicly?

COLLINS: So, my department has done a proper assessment along the entire supply chain. And my department is confident that the systems in the United States are equivalent to Australian systems in terms of biosecurity assuredness and that this has been a science-based assessment.

JOURNALIST: Will you make those findings public?

COLLINS: Look, that is not what is done usually. I am happy for experts to brief the Opposition and to brief industry further if people have more questions. As I've said, this is a science-based decision and it has been done by experts.