PHYLLOXERA

In reply to Mr VENNING (Schubert) (31 May 2012).

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has advised:

1. The changes are based on the National Phylloxera Management Protocol (the Protocol). The Protocol includes specifications for how pest free areas can be determined or declared. Pest free areas are the Phylloxera Exclusion Zones (PEZ) regions where vineyards have been surveyed for phylloxera according to the Protocol and where the pest has not been found.

The recent changes to South Australia's rules were made to further align South Australia's entry conditions, for machinery and equipment used in grape production, with the national Protocol. Machinery and equipment from an area outside of this State, that has been surveyed and declared free of phylloxera, can move into South Australia without treatment. Up until this point the Board has endorsed the Protocol. However I understand that some industry stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding the methodology within the Protocol for determining area freedom status in Victoria, in particular surveying vineyards for the pest.

The Board has now met and considered this matter on 28 May 2012, and provided a recommendation that the previous rules regarding the movement of grape harvesting machinery and equipment be reinstated while a further comprehensive review and industry consultation process is undertaken.