Fruit Fly

280 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().16 May 2023).

1. Since January 2019 how many expiation notices have been issued in relation to fruit fly?

2. How many of those notices have been challenged?

3. How many of the challenged expiation notices were overturned?

4. Where were the expiation notices issued by location?

5. What were the reasons given for each of the expiation notices?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): I am advised:

The zero tolerance program has been in place since January 2019 and I am advised that since that time, to date, 24,120 expiation notices have been issued in relation to the introduction of fruit fly host material.

A breakdown of this number reveals that 20,832 have been issued as a result of fruit fly host being seized at the Yamba quarantine station with the remainder as a result of fruit seized at the random roadblocks (Blanchetown—1,594, Bordertown—1,640, Morgan—39, Swan Reach—12 and Naracoorte—3)

As Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, I have not overturned any expiation notices issued under the zero tolerance policy.

There have been a number of reasons given by people when fruit fly host has been identified in their possession with a majority relating to claims the traveller did not see the clear and concise advisory signs, the traveller had forgotten they were carrying host material and or the traveller claimed they were not aware that zero tolerance had been introduced.