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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-04 Daily Xml
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Fruit Fly

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:34): My home region of the Riverland is currently tackling several fruit fly outbreaks. It is critical that we all work together as a community to rid this pest and to ensure that the Riverland continues to enjoy the benefits of being fruit fly free. Like other biosecurity threats, the risk of fruit fly continually evolves. South Australia has a strong record of effectively managing fruit fly, but the complex nature of biosecurity threats means that from time to time outbreaks do occur.

It has long been a priority of our state to contain and eradicate fruit fly outbreaks and it must continue to remain a top priority for the new government. I would like to acknowledge the commitment of the former Marshall Liberal government to fight against fruit fly with the largest fruit fly eradication program ever undertaken in South Australia. The former Liberal government waged a two-year battle against this pest, working hand in glove with the community to protect South Australia's $1.7 billion horticulture industry, to protect hundreds of businesses and to protect thousands of jobs.

In last year's state budget alone, the Liberal government invested a further $33.3 million to eradicate Queensland and Mediterranean fruit fly. At the peak of the response, approximately 350 staff were employed, visiting around 200,000 properties and releasing around 700 million sterile flies. I would like to acknowledge the amazing work that PIRSA, key industry stakeholders and growers continue to do in response to these outbreaks. PIRSA has implemented an eradication program that includes inspecting fruit trees, organically baiting, releasing sterile flies and establishing suspension zones around detections.

Suspension zones impose restrictions on fruit movement, which can be an inconvenience and challenge for the community. However, restricting fruit movement is an effective and practical way we can prevent fruit fly from being unintentionally transported across neighbourhoods, regions or to unaffected parts of the state. When you live in an outbreak or suspension zone, it is important not to share or move any homegrown fruit or fruiting vegetables from your property. All Riverlanders are encouraged to visit the PIRSA website at www.fruitfly.sa.gov.au and learn whether their residence is in an outbreak or suspension zone and the restrictions that may apply.

By containing fruit fly in outbreak and suspension zones, PIRSA can utilise specific tools, such as releasing sterile flies to target wild flies in and around these areas. Sterile flies are a proven technology and an important tool in any government's fight against fruit fly as it interrupts the life cycle of the wild flies. Whilst these programs are critical to eradicate the current outbreaks and protect our fruit fly free status, it is also important that there is community cooperation when it comes to fighting this pest. Community cooperation is critical.

I would like to thank everyone living in outbreak and suspension zones for following the rules and doing the right thing, including stripping backyards of homegrown fruit and fruiting vegetables. Most of the outbreaks have been detected in residential fruit trees. These measures aim to remove the host material where fruit fly breeds. With the community's cooperation, the number of breeding locations for fruit fly will be significantly reduced, enhancing the effectiveness of PIRSA's baiting SIT program.

Fruit fly was first detected in South Australia in 1947. It is one of the world's most destructive pests and it poses a significant risk to our horticultural industry. It is critical to understand and appreciate the competitive advantages and the flow-on financial benefits to our growers' local businesses and the state's economy because of South Australia's fruit fly free status.

Unfortunately, many Riverland growers who are currently in an outbreak or suspension zone face a challenging harvest. To get their produce to market will require expensive treatment that is not typically required in the South Australian horticulture industry. South Australian growers need our support now to overcome these fruit fly outbreaks. Together, as a state and as a community, we can eradicate the fruit fly outbreaks and ensure that the Riverland and our growers continue to enjoy the premium market advantage of being a fruit fly free state for decades to come.

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