Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries about tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In a media release dated Friday 30 May, the minister said the following:

Every state and territory up until yesterday wanted to eradicate the virus instead of moving to transition.

The National Management Group responsible for this decision comprises representatives from each state jurisdiction and affected industry, and decisions require consensus. It is known that there has been a range of opinions between state jurisdictions and industry members about pursuing eradication or transitioning to management, but not a consensus. It is also understood that the majority of, if not all, tomato producers in South Australia were hoping for a transition to management. My questions for the minister are:

1. Does the minister stand by that particular statement in her media release?

2. Did Biosecurity SA accurately represent the interests of the tomato growers in this state and advocate for a transition to management instead of maintaining the approach of eradication?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:28): I thank the honourable member for her question. The role of Biosecurity is to provide the facts as informed by their scientific knowledge—Biosecurity SA I am referring to, in terms of the chief plant health officer who is employed by PIRSA. In all of the discussions, and I think the honourable member may be confused—I am not having a go—between the role and function of the NMG and CCEPP. Biosecurity officers contribute to the CCEPP, which then makes recommendations to the National Management Group (NMG).

In terms of the national approach, it was for eradication, and every state and territory, according to my advice, was signed up to that because it is a national approach. Therefore, I think I can absolutely say, according to my advice, that the information I provided in the media release was accurate.

I am not quite sure on which basis the honourable member says that most, if not all, growers preferred a movement to management. One of the difficulties when we are talking about any pest or disease that has had an eradication phase is what then a transition to management looks like. In terms of what will be required of growers from other states, at this stage that is still unknown. That is why there are these processes in place. The National Management Group took on board the information from the CCEPP as well as other input and made their decision accordingly.