Ministerial Statement

Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:17): On 14 August 2024, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was confirmed on two South Australian properties known to grow susceptible host species from the solanaceae family of fruits and a third property on 30 August 2024, all located within the Northern Adelaide Plains region.

ToBRFV is an exotic plant disease that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. The virus is listed on the National Priority Plant Pests list and is a highly contagious virus. Infected plants show symptoms such as mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, while fruits develop brown wrinkled spots, deformities and uneven ripening, and can reduce yields by up to 75 per cent. The virus is regarded as a considerable threat to Australia's $5.8 billion vegetable industry and South Australia's $230 million tomato and capsicum industry owing to reduced yield and quality of produce.

The virus does not pose any risk to human health. As a result of the virus spreading further at a previously confirmed positive site, a further quarantine order was issued on the grower this week. Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales have already established various restrictions and requirements around trade of South Australian tomatoes.

Failure to implement this quarantine order would likely cause the disease to spread and put at risk the ability for all other tomato growers and businesses in South Australia to be able to access interstate trade markets. As mentioned earlier, these industries are worth $230 million at the farm gate in South Australia, so being able to demonstrate to our interstate counterparts that the virus has been contained to the affected properties is of utmost importance.

The government's priority is to minimise the impacts of this virus across all of industry and eradicate the disease so we can resume trading normally with other states and limit the potential for further financial losses. As a result of the quarantine order, I understand that earlier today staff at the facility have now been informed that their employment is ceasing for a currently unknown length of time.

On 23 September, in consultation with the Premier, I established a ToBRFV task force. The task force is chaired by the PIRSA chief executive and includes senior representatives from key state government agencies, including:

Department of Primary Industries and Regions (chair);

Department of the Premier and Cabinet;

Department of Treasury and Finance;

Department of State Development;

Department of Human Services; and

Department for Housing and Urban Development.

The task force will work to:

minimise the impact of ToBRFV across all of industry, and limit the social, economic and psychological impacts for business and employees;

coordinate (alternative) employment of affected workers;

assist affected companies with options for business diversification and recovery; and

address market access issues and protect the state's reputation as producers of premium clean fruit and vegetable.

The task force will work closely with the affected businesses and relevant industrial organisations. The task force has already met and established a workforce assistance hub in the Northern Adelaide Plains to provide immediate support to affected workers.