Fruit Fly

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries. Can the minister advise the house why it has taken until now, 18 months after the start of these outbreaks, to finally engage in a broadscale public awareness campaign of the outbreaks?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.K.B. BASHAM (Finniss—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:32): I would dispute that enormously. We have been constantly out there, educating the population about these outbreaks and the requirements. As I stated before, these outbreak requirements have been in place for many years. These have been a responsibility, a bipartisan responsibility, of all governments previously to support the industry and this process. The government continues to follows those protocols and does not quite understand why the opposition has decided to make this a political issue, because we are out there protecting our industries.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Chaffey will cease interjecting.