Question Time

Bee Deaths

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of bee deaths in the Riverland. Has the minister investigated the complaints which I raised in this chamber last sitting week made to the PIRSA hotline in regard to claims that PIRSA personnel were spraying directly on, or close to, beehives? Will she now commit to an independent review into bee deaths in the Riverland?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for her question. I do feel like we have a little bit of deja vu in this place, not just occasionally but repeatedly.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Those opposite hopefully were listening to the answer in previous question times.

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo: I don't think we can call it an answer.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Hopefully they have the ability to read Hansard.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: And hopefully, when a question is taken on notice, they are aware—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —that an answer will come back in due course. One thing I think is worth considering is some of the key points around the issues to do with bee deaths. My first question would actually be to the shadow minister: does she not accept the science that Naturalure, which is used by PIRSA in the fruit fly eradication effort, does not contain Fipronil? Does she not accept that? It is really difficult to be any clearer to the shadow minister. Fipronil is not used as part of the fruit fly eradication program, so she continues to undermine the efforts in the fruit fly eradication program—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —by implying that PIRSA is to blame for the extremely unfortunate bee deaths in the region.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: As I have said previously, a number of times, there are a number of things within the environment that can result in bee deaths. That is unfortunate, but they are not being caused by PIRSA's fruit fly eradication program.