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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-06-30 Daily Xml
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LOCUST PLAGUE

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:06): I seek leave to make a second ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

Mr Pisoni: Is this all last minute stuff?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Unley!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It is of grave concern that South Australia is facing its most serious locust threat to primary production in 40 years. The Australian Plague Locust Commission has warned that the danger posed in spring and summer is the greatest for more than a generation. In response to this significant threat, the South Australian government is joining with our state's farmers in a war on locusts.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg! Could we have some quiet, please. We have young people in the gallery today who will wonder what is happening.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Thank you, madam—because the member for Bragg is now so far away it is hard to hear her interjections. Aerial attacks and onground operations will be mobilised to protect the state's $12 billion agricultural and horticultural industries. Up to $12.8 million has been allocated to combat the biggest locust threat in 40 years.

An honourable member: Victoria is spending 43.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Oh, I just heard the interjection. This amount is more than double the $6 million committed by the previous Liberal government to fight the last major locust plague in 2000.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: If left uncontrolled, this locust incursion may be capable of causing up to $3 billion worth of damage to agricultural production. But locusts do not only threaten cereal production. Given their migratory habits, high value horticultural crops in the Riverland, Clare and the Northern Adelaide Plains can also be at risk. If left unchecked, there are wide-ranging ramifications beyond the agricultural sector, including damage to football and cricket ovals, bowling greens, golf courses, parks and gardens. Swarms of locusts can also hinder regional aviation and cause road safety concerns.

The South Australian government is not going to stand by and allow locusts to destroy the value of our rural industries or our way of life. The funding package announced today by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries includes assistance for extensive aerial spraying of open pastoral country and cropping areas in the Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges region, also parts of the Riverland-Murray Mallee region, north of Morgan and south of Loxton.

There will be a rebate scheme for chemical purchases by farmers in the Riverland-Murray Mallee to help control locust hoppers. The scheme will provide a maximum of $2,500 for properties under 1,000 hectares or, for properties of more than 1,000 hectares, we will pay a rebate to undertake control works on up to 20 per cent of the total land area at a rate of up to $8.25 per hectare. In exception circumstances, the minister can approve greater than these amounts.

The government will also provide additional resources in the coming budget should the locust plague be more extensive or last longer than expected. In addition, a grant of up to $1 million will be provided to help local government in affected areas to undertake control works. Preparations are well advanced for major aerial spraying in open country and pasture in the Mid North and the southern Flinders Ranges in spring, to complement work by the Australian Plague Locust Commission and authorities interstate. Aircraft have been secured to ensure an effective blitz on affected areas in South Australia.

Earlier this year, the commission undertook spraying on more than 200,000 hectares of land in western New South Wales and southern Queensland to reduce the impact on crops and the level of fly-ins into South Australia. In spring the commission will concentrate its activities in north-western Victoria and south-western New South Wales to stop as many fly-ins as possible.

The South Australian government is having ongoing discussions with Victorian and New South Wales authorities to ensure a coordinated response and to minimise border hopping. I want to congratulate the minister in this regard. In parts of the Riverland, where aerial spraying cannot be undertaken, localised coordinated locust control will be carried out by local government in conjunction with natural resources management boards and farmers. Aerial spraying cannot be undertaken near watercourses, towns and sensitive sites. That is why we have to do these on-the-ground activities as well.

Depending on climatic conditions, control operations against locusts will start in September in the Mid North/Southern Flinders Ranges region and then progress to the Riverland/Murray Mallee. Two command centres to manage the government's response are being set up at Orroroo in the Mid North and Loxton in the Riverland. Community reference groups are assisting the government with our response, and PIRSA will undertake a communications campaign—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —to keep landowners and communities informed. It is important to understand that we cannot eradicate the locusts, but we can minimise the damage they may inflict with a well-planned control strategy that involves government, landholders, local councils, NRM boards and volunteer emergency services organisations. This government understands and appreciates the value of agricultural and horticultural production to South Australia's economy and our way of life. We are taking every appropriate step to ensure that the locusts threat is dealt with in a targeted and responsible manner.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: And, once again, the Liberals are knocking it. This is all they ever do.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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