Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OYSTER INDUSTRY

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries a question regarding the threat of POMS to South Australia's $32 million oyster industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Earlier this year, 18 oyster farms in New South Wales were hit with the Pacific oyster mortality syndrome, known as POMS. POMS is caused by a virus which affects Pacific oysters, the same species which forms the backbone of the invertebrate industry in South Australia. It does not affect other species, like the Sydney rock oyster.

Up to 100 per cent of all Pacific oysters in a river can die within days of the syndrome's detection. So far, POMS has been found in the Georges, Parramatta and Hawkesbury river estuaries in New South Wales. It was first detected in November 2010. Immediate reporting of these mortalities resulted in rapid action by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries to investigate the cause and implement controls on the movement of oysters and equipment from an area to help prevent the further spread of the disease, but even so the disease spread.

In February this year, the virus was detected in wild Pacific oysters from Brisbane water. The outbreak has wiped out most of the oysters in the Hawkesbury River, financially ruining leaseholders. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries says the syndrome destroyed about 10 million oysters, worth up to $6 million, in a matter of days.

In South Australia, Pacific oyster production is centred on the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas and Kangaroo Island. Water quality in all South Australian oyster growing areas is tested by SASQAP (South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program). My questions are:

1. Oyster growers in New South Wales have had to walk away; they have been ruined. What contingency plans does the minister have in case the virus is detected in South Australia?

2. Is the minister working with her New South Wales counterpart to prevent the spread of this disease to South Australia?

3. What steps has the minister taken to increase South Australian oyster growers' market share in New South Wales in the wake of this emergency?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Indeed, we can be very proud here in South Australia of our history: we have exceptionally clean waters. We not only have excellently managed fisheries but we also have a very strong biosecurity system and testing system, in combination with the EPA, that ensure that we remain vigilant and extremely careful and cautious in how we manage our important fisheries. South Australia has an excellent track record. We have had very few issues or problems here in this state and that's because of the vigilance of our inspectors and our industry and also the integrity of our biosecurity system. So, we can see that what we currently have in place is working.

I have indicated that the South Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Program, which was established 16 years ago, has very successfully provided public health protection for the consumption of South Australian shellfish. In addition, I am certainly aware that the government agencies are working very closely with the local councils and our interstate counterparts to ensure that safeguards are in place to handle effluent around our estuaries and to ensure that our oyster fisheries remain protected.