Vinehealth Australia

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:54): My question is to the minister for the environment. Is the minister aware of concerns from the Coonawarra Vignerons Association regarding delays in appointing new board members to Vinehealth Australia? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BELL: The Coonawarra Vignerons Association has written to me on a number of occasions indicating that Vinehealth has been without a functioning board for most of this year. Applications for new members were opened on 19 May and closed on 2 June this year, nearly five months ago. Coonawarra's geographical location means that they are on the doorstep of Victoria, where phylloxera currently exists, and recent reports indicate that it is spreading.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (14:55): As the minister representing the minister for primary industries in this house, I am happy to take the question from the member for Mount Gambier. Can I thank him for raising it. It's an important point for the reasons that he has articulated in his explanation, particularly for that industry so close to the border of Victoria. The closer the interaction with industry that the government has, and particularly doing it through experienced industry representatives, the better it is to guard against the risk of those sorts of issues. Perhaps if I can take that away and get an answer for the member as quickly as possible and bring it back for the benefit of the house.