MOUSE PLAGUE

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: This year is arguably the most difficult year that farmers have faced with respect to the mouse plague. Until several years ago, mouse plagues were treated like locust plagues and government contributed to coordination, management and some funding to assist farmers. Last year, to give credit where it is due, the government did provide a small amount of grain for Eyre Peninsula.

However, given the extent of the plague this year, and expert advice now saying that there has been a change in the habit of the mice to the point where they are now eating not only the grain but also the small seedlings, we could face an unprecedented mouse plague prior to harvest this spring. Not only that, the advice is that, if we do not nip the problem in the bud this year, we could see serious recurrent mouse plagues in ongoing years that will do enormous damage to the crop yield potential of this state.

My question to the minister is: will the minister undertake to communicate with the minister for primary industries, and her cabinet colleagues, to ensure that there is an urgent investigation, including the consideration of a coordinator and funding, to assist these farmers, some of whom have had to reseed the same paddock three times this year alone and who are desperate for funding support and coordination?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his important question. As discussed only yesterday, the matter is mainly the responsibility of minister O'Brien in primary industries. In terms of the mouse plague itself, I have been advised that minister Caica has, in fact, been very much involved in that program as well.

I am happy to refer the question to the relevant ministers in another place and bring back a response. Clearly, it is an area that is outside the responsibilities of my portfolio areas, but I know that both minister O'Brien and minister Caica are deeply concerned about these issues and are working with primary industries and key stakeholders to address the matter as expeditiously as they possibly can.