Fruit Fly

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:45): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister update the house on how eradicating fruit fly is protecting the South Australian economy and supporting jobs?

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (15:45): I thank the member for Chaffey for this very important question. I was in the electorate of Chaffey last week with the member for Chaffey and the Hon. Nicola Centofanti from the other place, working with industry on the eradication efforts for fruit fly. It was important to also have officers from the commonwealth Department of Agriculture present for the meetings to provide an update on market access.

We are currently battling nine fruit fly outbreaks in the metropolitan area, with two outbreak zones in the Riverland. South Australia has a strong record when it comes to eradicating fruit fly outbreaks and we need the public's help to minimise the movement of fruit—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM: —and prevent further spread. We as a government are following the strict protocols for eradication of fruit fly. These are the same protocols that were in place under the former Labor government, but we are taking it very seriously. These protocols are nationally agreed between the federal and state governments and industry. This is the largest ever response to fruit fly outbreaks in South Australia. We are committed to eradicating fruit fly from South Australia to protect the $1.3 billion horticulture industry and the 37½ thousand jobs that rely on it.

More than 250 officers are fighting the outbreaks, including 100 based out of the Loxton Research Centre. We are working with local employment agencies to ensure we have enough workers to eradicate fruit fly. It is critical we have a strong workforce to respond to these outbreaks as we are protecting the livelihoods of our growers, the people who put food on our tables.

It is clear that the Marshall Liberal government is committed to eradicating fruit fly from the state and keeping our fruit fly free advantage. We are the only mainland state to be recognised by our international markets as fruit fly free. To date, almost $17 million has been spent on the current outbreaks. The Marshall Liberal government will continue to throw all available resources at eradicating these outbreaks, including extra on-ground staff to undertake baiting and hygiene programs, as well as the latest technology, such as the release of sterile fruit flies.

Since coming to government, we have been protecting our horticulture industries. We have implemented additional quarantine bins and a record number of random roadblocks. We have appointed a dedicated fruit fly coordinator for the Riverland. We have installed new signage. We have introduced zero tolerance at random roadblocks in Yamba and we have employed additional staff at Yamba. We have put $2 million towards the upgrade of the Yamba quarantine station. We have invested half a million dollars to fund a new irradiator to boost sterilisation technology at Port Augusta.

Every time we have an outbreak, it costs taxpayers money to eradicate it. It puts tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Prevention is better than the cure. It only takes one piece of maggot-infested fruit to cause widespread devastation. We are committed to doing what it takes to protect the 37½ thousand horticulture jobs in South Australia.