Rt Hon David Carter (Minister for Primary Industries) replied: Exercises are an integral part of maintaining an operational capability. As such, the Ministry for Primary Industries participation in Exercise Barrier 2012 is an operational cost and staff will be resourced from within the Ministry’s Verification and Systems, and Compliance and Response branches. Costs are from existing budget as part of the Ministry’s preparation for all of government management of complex national security risks, including national exercises to test preparedness.