Red Imported Fire Ants

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:01): Supplementary: I will rephrase it for the minister's benefit. What are the strict biosecurity requirements in South Australia for fire ants?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:02): The honourable member seems to misunderstand the nature of the issue. Fire ants can move in machinery; therefore, there are requirements around—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

An honourable member: I can't hear, sir.

The PRESIDENT: Neither can I.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: As I mentioned, the vectors for fire ants entering South Australia can include a number of different ways—machinery, for example—and, therefore, there are requirements about bringing machinery across the border. It can be in soil or hay or mulch. It can be in manure, it can be in quarry products, turf or potting materials and potted plants, so there are various biosecurity requirements depending on the vector.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!