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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-28 Daily Xml
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Biosecurity

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (23:21): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes the imperative importance of world-leading biosecurity measures for food and fibre security in South Australia;

2. Recognises that a whole-of-sector and state approach to biosecurity is crucial to the health and safety of our natural landscape and primary production; and

3. Acknowledges that South Australia's $18.5 billion agriculture, horticulture, fishing and forestry industries are best served by the management and eradication of invasive species.

Tonight I rise to address the chamber on a matter of paramount importance to South Australia's economic stability and future; that is, the health and security of our $18.5 billion primary industries sector. This sector not only drives our state's economic engine but also supports over half of our state's exports. The threats we face are significant and multifaceted, and it is imperative that we address these threats with urgency and clarity.

In recent years, our producers have been besieged by multiple major biosecurity issues. I acknowledge that the minister gave notice of the introduction of the biosecurity bill yesterday in this place. The opposition is looking forward to assessing that piece of legislation, the process of which, of course, began under the former Liberal government. I do note that it has taken the current minister two years to table that bill despite it being a priority and target in the 2022-23 budget. This inaction and sluggish response is unfortunately what we have come to expect under this current Labor government and this minister.

While the arrival of varroa mite and avian influenza are obviously not directly attributable to the actions of the Labor government, the government's response—or perhaps the lack thereof—has been slow and lacking urgency. This lack of effective action has left our primary industries vulnerable and has sown seeds of doubt amongst many producers out in the community who are talking to me.

Let us delve into the pressing issues facing our sector. First is the varroa mite, which presents potential losses for many parts of the agriculture sector in this state if we are not properly prepared. The varroa mite is an insidious parasite affecting honey bees and represents a significant threat to not only our beekeeping industry but also our horticulture and agriculture sectors that rely on the bee industry for pollination. This pest has recently been detected near Mildura, just 170 kilometres from South Australia's border. Given the close proximity of this incursion to the border, it is pertinent to question the adequacy of our current response and preparedness.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the minister's response to queries about the outbreak have been troublingly indifferent. When asked recently on the radio about the impact of the outbreak on the government's approach, and whether it would prompt an increase in surveillance, the minister's reply was equivocal: 'Look, at this stage, no'. This lack of urgency is unlikely to give confidence to industry stakeholders.

The management of varroa mite will be neither quick nor inexpensive. If it becomes established and eradication is no longer feasible, this transition will be challenging and costly for our apiarists. To date there has been no clear communication about who will bear the costs associated with this incursion. The apiarists are left in the dark, with no assurance regarding financial support or strategic guidance.

Moreover, the establishment of the South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee has been a slow-moving process. Although this committee is intended to advise the Department of Primary Industries and Regions during the transition to a management phase, it was only set up after persistent questioning from the opposition. This committee includes representatives from the Beekeepers' Society of South Australia, the South Australian Apiarists' Association and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council. Yet, despite this committee's formation in September 2023, crucial documents, such as the Varroa Mite Response Plan, have only just been released, despite varroa mite now being detected just over the border and right on our doorstep.

We now have a rushed consultation process, with industry having only three weeks to make a contribution to that response plan. This reveals a lack of transparency, preparedness and meaningful engagement with industry stakeholders. The consultation process is rushed, because the minister has sat on her hands for the best part of the year and it is not good enough.

Turning to avian influenza, we face a persistent threat that is dynamic in nature and has a real prospect of unfolding into a crisis. The minister herself has characterised this situation as continuing and evolving. Yet, an FOI request has revealed a troubling lack of correspondence between the minister and the Chief Veterinary Officer. This communication gap at critical times with such an important issue raises concerns about the government's management and oversight of the situation.

The avian influenza outbreak has particularly affected poultry produced in free-range conditions, exposing them to wild bird populations that often carry the virus asymptomatically and infect free-range poultry via contact. Industry representatives have raised alarm about the risks posed under these conditions, and a lack of preparedness or decisive government action. For example, the absence of voluntary housing orders and exemptions from the ACCC has been a point of contention.

The impact on the industry interstate has been severe—over two million chickens have been euthanised, leading to unstable egg prices and significant financial losses. This has a flow-on effect in the cost-of-living crisis that has extended to South Australia. The delay in returning a question on the frequency of surveillance and testing of wild bird population further demonstrates the minister's lack of organisation and commitment to addressing this critical issue. This action to date gives little confidence that the government is prepared to handle an incursion of avian influenza effectively.

Fruit fly continues to be a major problem for South Australian fruit producers, a sector worth $1.3 billion to our horticultural industry. Historically, as well as today, the approach to management of fruit fly has enjoyed multipartisan support, reflecting its absolute importance to our state's economy, but we need to ensure that confidence remains in the program, and when issues have been raised with the opposition, despite these serious concerns, the minister has steadfastly refused to commission an independent review of fruit fly policies and procedures. This refusal to act undermines confidence in our biosecurity efforts, and again signals a lack of transparency by this Labor government.

Foot-and-mouth disease remains a critical risk to Australia's animal health and trade. While the federal government has asserted that it has robust response plans and conducts regular exercises to test these plans, the situation on the ground appears less reassuring. The 2022 incursion in Indonesia exposed significant weaknesses in our local response systems. For example, the delay in the federal government's frontline biosecurity measures, such as foot mats at airports and the like, presented an increased risk to our farming communities across the nation and across this state. Then, the recent removal of the sanitation entry mats at Adelaide Airport, despite their low cost and moderate effectiveness, further highlights a troubling lack of commitment to biosecurity.

The minister's and the government's response to these important biosecurity threats has been marked by inconsistency and lack of urgency. We face a situation where vital aspects of our $18.5 billion-dollar primary industries sector may be exposed. These issues we have discussed—varroa mite, avian influenza, fruit fly, and foot-and-mouth disease—represent significant threats to our state's economic health and food security.

It is essential that we hold the government and the minister accountable for the current state of affairs and demand a more effective, transparent and proactive approach to managing these threats. Our primary industries are the backbone of South Australia's economy and they deserve robust protection and decisive action. We must ensure that the government acts in the best interests of our producers, maintains rigorous biosecurity standards, and provides clear, timely and actionable plans to address these critical issues.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon I.K. Hunter.

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