Fruit Fly

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries another question about the current fruit fly outbreaks in Adelaide threatening the livelihoods of our major apple, pear and strawberry producers in the Adelaide Hills.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Since raising the issue with the minister yesterday, my phone has been running hot with tales of woe from Hills producers frustrated with the lack of understanding and sympathy from heavy-handed PIRSA officers. Those officers may well have learnt that from the minister, if her response to my question in this place yesterday was anything to go by. The minister's response lacked compassion for the plight of the growers, that could send them broke. She didn't acknowledge their predicament. Her only interest was in reading the prepared script on the national protocols and having her hands tied by them.

What these growers want to see and what the minister should be doing is fighting to help these growers, not sitting on her hands while they suffer the consequences of bureaucratic madness. My question to the minister, which is the same one I asked yesterday that she didn't answer, is:

1. Why are growers allowed to give away fruit in the imposed restriction zones but aren't allowed to sell their produce in these zones?

2. Why can't growers accept unspecified donations from loyal customers sympathetic to their plight?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for his question. He appears to be advocating that we remove ourselves from the national protocols for fruit fly. The consequence of such an action would be devastating for our fruit and vegetable industries here in South Australia. I think it is entirely reasonable to acknowledge the difficulty that fruit growers are going through, and I certainly have done so. As I mentioned, I met with the association just last week. It is incredibly difficult when there are outbreaks of fruit fly as of course the Riverland has been experiencing for some time.

I am not quite sure what the honourable member is asking for when he says 'fighting to help the growers'. Surely, preventing the further spread of fruit fly is the best thing we can do to support our growers. Surely, fighting the spread of fruit fly is the best thing we can do for all our primary producers who might be affected. Surely, preventing as far as possible the further spread of fruit fly is something we should all be united in doing.

If a grower wants to move fruit contrary to the protocols, why on earth would the honourable member be advocating that that should be supported or enabled? It really is quite difficult to understand what the honourable member is asking for. The protocols are in place and that is why I shared in detail yesterday with the honourable member what the protocols are to protect our pest free status, to protect our fruit fly free status that we have here in South Australia, and to protect our fruit and vegetable industries.