Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:21): I will wing one here since we had nothing of consequence from the Labor people today. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries about tomato rugose virus and testing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Last week, before Budget and Finance, the head of Primary Industries informed the committee about testing procedures underway currently with a number of growers and also indicated that there were tests underway and that there would be a 48-hour turnaround on those tests. I received a call from a grower last week who is desperate to start picking his crop of tomatoes because they need 10 days' notice to allow Primary Industries to come in and take their tests before he can pick. The grower said to me that he was expecting the results within 48 hours, yet after more than 10 days he still hasn't received those results and doesn't know when he can pick his fruit. Can I ask the minister:

1. Why is there such a long delay for results to be given to growers to enable them to pick their fruit and then be able to freight it to markets interstate?

2. Why was a 48-hour deadline given to them?

3. Is it correct that there are hundreds of growers who will be expecting a 48-hour turnaround, a deadline that may not be able to be met?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for his question. If he has details of the particular grower, as I indicated to the Leader of the Opposition earlier in this question time, if he would like to provide that to my office we can follow up the situation. However, I would point out that the South Australian lab has not yet been operational for 10 days. The 10-day requirement is being put in place by those interstate jurisdictions and the goal is to have the quickest turnaround possible. In terms of the exact wording that was used or what was stated, I am happy to take that on notice and bring back a more fulsome reply.