Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Varroa Mite Varroa Mite The Hon. F. PANGALLO Legislative Council Varroa Mite The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:52): What would this place be without a question about Kangaroo Island in regard to their precious Ligurian bees? Considering travel is quite easy between the mainland and Kangaroo Island—there are restrictions, as we all know, in taking over products like that—will there be any additional safeguards, for instance a checkpoint at Cape Jarvis, for travellers and also freight going across to the island to ensure that the Ligurian bee population isn't threatened? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries Varroa Mite The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his question. I certainly agree with him: what would a week of question time be without a question about Kangaroo Island? As the member I think is probably aware, there are already restrictions that are ongoing in place in terms of protecting the Ligurian bees on Kangaroo Island. The approach at the moment is in regard to preventing movement of any bees or bee products from New South Wales, which is the infected area, as I outlined in my ministerial statement. At the moment, to our knowledge, we do not have the varroa mite here. The approach for Kangaroo Island is consistent with what we are doing for the rest of the state, because of course all of our beekeepers and apiarists are very keen to ensure that this mite does not take hold in South Australia.