Question Time

Biosecurity South Australia

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a series of questions to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding PIRSA staffing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The opposition understands that the former executive director of Biosecurity South Australia resigned from that position in July of this year. There have been no public updates as to the status of that position throughout this significant and serious incursion of the National Priority Plant Pests tomato brown rugose fruit virus. We understand that PIRSA Chief Executive Mehdi Doroudi has stepped into the position as Acting Executive Director of Biosecurity SA whilst it is vacant, but, of even greater concern, we are of the understanding that the professor is currently on leave. Therefore, my questions for the Minister for Primary Industries are:

1. Has the previous executive director of Biosecurity South Australia been replaced, and, if so, by whom?

2. If the chief executive is indeed acting in the role and is currently on leave, what are the dates of that leave?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:21): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, the executive director has resigned from the position. I understand the recruitment process is in train. I haven't had an update in the last days as to where that recruitment process is at. Mr Nick Secomb, the chief plant health inspector, has been doing a sterling job in terms of biosecurity, and I certainly congratulate him on that and his team. It has been an incredibly intense time, and they have been responding very strongly and in a very dedicated way to all the different requirements that are involved with what is the first time that this disease has been detected in Australia.

The chief executive of the department is currently on leave. I don't have the dates in front of me, but I think it is only this week, from memory. He has been available on the phone, and of course there has been someone acting in this position.