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AQIS wins again
2 December 2005
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has won a prestigious 2005 COMCOVER award for innovative risk management.
It’s the second year running that AQIS has won a COMCOVER award for risk management.
A strong field of 22 Australian Public Service agencies contested 10 awards on Wednesday night at an award ceremony at the National Museum of Australia.
AQIS’s Executive Director Peter Yuile said the award is a great tribute to the work being done in AQIS by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS).
“NAQS plays a vital role in minimising the risk of exotic animal and plant pests and diseases that could enter Australia from countries to the north,” Mr Yuile said.
“In our remote north the terrain is often rough, communication difficult and the climate harsh.
“The nature of the work is also hazardous—particularly surveying for exotic diseases such as avian influenza and rabies.
“Through risk management principles NAQS has developed a unique program involving cooperative ventures with remote area communities in Northern Australia and the Torres Strait and neighbouring countries.
“This award is excellent recognition of this work and will save the Department thousands of dollars in reduced COMCOVER premiums over the next two years.
“It is a fantastic result and further demonstrates AQIS’s commitment to risk management by seeing these principles underpin the NAQS program.
“It is a real credit to AQIS and the dedicated individuals in NAQS who work to mitigate the risks posed by exotic pests and diseases in neighbouring countries to our north, which have the potential to threaten productivity, our valuable export markets and unique environment.”
For more information contact:
Cathy Cox
Phone: (02) 6272 4303
Mobile: 0417 66 36 94