Question Time

Biosecurity

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries regarding biosecurity.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On 26 September, I asked a question of the minister on the long-term management of varroa mite, given the decision of the national management group to transition to management rather than eradication of the pest, and what her department and her government was doing to prepare South Australian apiarists and the primary industries more broadly for the new management strategy, to which the minister responded:

As I have already mentioned, the updated plan is expected soon. It's something that we are working on...

My question to the minister is: given we are now six weeks post the decision of management rather than eradication, has the minister and her government released their updated plan to industry, and if not, why not?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for her question. I have had a great deal of feedback, as one would imagine, in regard to the national change from an eradication program for varroa mite to a management program. It is worth noting and emphasising that we do not have varroa mite here in South Australia at this time and, of course, we will continue to be doing whatever we can to ensure that it does not come into our state.

New South Wales, of course, continues to battle additional outbreaks that have been identified. Here in South Australia, in consultation with industry, we have established a consultative committee to look at the best ways forward in terms of management, and once there is more to say from that committee, I will be happy to update the chamber.