Fruit Fly

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding sterile fruit flies.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The mating of released sterile male fruit flies with wild female fruit flies leads to a decrease in the female's reproductive potential and, ultimately, if SITs are released in sufficient numbers over a sufficient period of time, leads to the local elimination or suppression of the pest population. The release of tens of millions of sterile fruit flies into the Riverland has indeed been productive in the fight against fruit fly and horticultural productivity in the region. However, the opposition understands that the communication from the department to individual growers in industry regarding these releases or locations of these releases has either been not forthcoming or has not been effective.

One grower has reported that he was not informed at all of the sterile fruit fly drop and continued with his bait spraying program. He reports that PIRSA staff discovered a very substantial spike in the number of dead fruit flies found and that these are suspected to be the same dropped sterile fruit flies. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the normal procedure for advising growers and, indeed, the community of the release of sterile fruit flies in a district or area?

2. Can the minister confirm if a lack of communication has resulted in substantial deaths of their own sterile fruit flies?

3. Given the importance of having live sterile fruit flies to break the cycle of reproduction of Queensland fruit fly, does the minister believe her department is currently delivering good practice and communication?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for her question. Whenever there are any kinds of perceived breakdowns in communication, I would always urge those who are aware of it to actually bring that to the attention of the department. The department is very keen to improve their communications at all times. We know that cooperation of the community, cooperation of growers and cooperation, indeed, across the board is very important. If there are any gaps in what would be best practice in terms of communications, the sooner that is brought to the attention of the department the better. I know they are very keen to continually improve.