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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-09-18 Daily Xml
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Strawberry Industry

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE (Chaffey—Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: On 14 September 2018, SA Health was notified that a brand of Queensland strawberries sold in South Australia was linked to contamination which impacted Eastern States last week. Contamination of strawberries with sewing needles have since been reported in multiple states across Australia involving four brands. Reports indicate there have been at least two cases of needles being found in strawberries in South Australia in recent days sold through local retail outlets.

SAPOL is the lead government agency for the case in South Australia and is working with SA Health to coordinate product recalls and public health messages. The Bi-National Food Safety Network has been activated across Australia for this national incident. This network enables governments to work together to coordinate their response when there is a food incident, and this network is made up of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, the food enforcement agencies of all Australian states and territories and New Zealand and the commonwealth departments of health and of agriculture and water resources.

The National Biosecurity Committee is also meeting today regarding the incident, and I can advise the house that PIRSA officers will be in attendance. Contamination of our food supplies is a very serious criminal matter. The strawberry industry here in South Australia is putting safeguards in place to address these most concerning criminal acts. The Adelaide Produce Market in Pooraka has advised PIRSA and SA Health that it is installing a metal detector to provide a level of reassurance and protection for customers, producers and the market stallholders. The industry is also looking into providing tamper-proof packaging.

The strawberry industry plays an important role in South Australia's premium food economy, producing more than six million kilograms with a farmgate value of $42 million. The South Australian strawberry season is just three weeks away from commencing, and this coincides with the Queensland and Western Australian seasons coming to an end. Already this week the SA produce market has been forced to throw out more than two tonnes of strawberries, valued at $17,000, following the discovery of sewing needles in local strawberries.

These incidents have the ability to have a profound impact on our strawberry producers. As proud South Australians who support our food industry, we must not let these actions put us off buying local strawberries. SAPOL and SA Health continue to reinforce the message that people need to slice their fruit prior to consumption, and I urge South Australians to continue buying strawberries in South Australia.

If we do not stand up and support South Australian strawberry growers during this difficult time, innocent businesses and families will be negatively impacted. South Australians are well known for supporting each other during extremely tough times. I encourage all South Australians to spread the message and support our strawberry producers in their time of need.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is interjecting. He is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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