Tasmania Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Jeremy Rockliff

Fruit Fly Hotline Runs Cold: No Laughing Matter

Victor P Taffa

The true impact of Labor-Green Government cuts to the state’s quarantine and biosecurity service in last year’s budget is now being felt following the suspected discovery of a fruit fly on a Suburban North-West Property yesterday, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Jeremy Rockliff said today.

“The fact that it took a concerned member of the public three phone calls to the hotline over the space of almost five hours, only to receive an answering machine each time before the call was returned, highlights serious flaws in biosecurity procedure and risks our $120 Million fruit growing industry.” Mr. Rockliff said.

“For a member of the public to also have the option of returning a sample of larvae, flies and infected fruit to the department four days after discovery is also totally unacceptable.”

“Sadly, the best the Minister could do when questioned about the incident in Parliament today was to laugh off the matter, with a vague commitment to look into the issue.” Mr. Rockliff said.

“Mr. Green talks about the importance of being vigilant about quarantine measures in Tasmania, but the fact is cutting $2 Million from the quarantine budget is starting to seriously affect the ability of quarantine officials to do their jobs.”

“Given the massive importance of our primary industries sector and level of investment from industry into branding our environmentally friendly image in Tasmania, it is vital that we remain vigilant in protecting out relative exotic pest and disease-free status.” Mr. Rockliff said.

“Mr. Green needs to take a serious look at how an alert from the public concerning a potential fruit fly incursion is handled in the future, and he must immediately rule out any further cuts to the state’s quarantine and biosecurity budget.”

“Information provided from the public is a key cog in the line of defense against an incursion of an exotic pest such as fruit fly.”

“I commend the person who understood the seriousness of a potential fruit fly incursion and his actions in contacting the department yesterday.” Mr. Rockliff said.

Tasmania Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Jeremy Rockliff

State Must Be On High Alert As Fruit Fly Devastates Victoria

Victor P Taffa

The State Government must mobilise all available Quarantine Tasmania detection and monitoring resources in the wake of a devastating fruit fly outbreak in country Victoria, reported as possibly the worst in fifteen years, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Jeremy Rockliff said today.

“Extreme flooding and high daily temperatures in Victoria have created the perfect breeding ground for the pests.”

“With similar weather conditions currently being experienced in Tasmania, this is further evidence that we must remain on high alert for potential outbreaks.” Mr. Rockliff said.

“Tasmania’s clean, green, quality image and brand gives the state a distinct advantage against its competitors both nationally and internationally.”

“The fruit industry is one of the most profitable industries in the state, and an outbreak of fruit fly would be devastating for the industry and seriously damage this reputation and threaten exports.”

“The State Government must ensure that our monitoring is at the highest level in order to protect our primary industries and Tasmania’s relative disease-free status.” Mr. Rockliff said.

Tim Whetstone Liberal Member for Chaffey

NSW Fruit Fly Outbreaks Highlight Risk to Riverland 

Victor P Taffa

Recent fruit fly outbreaks in the Riverina Region of New South Wales have served to highlight the risk to the Riverland and the importance of maintaining 24-hour operations at the Yamba roadblock.

Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said it was now more important than ever for the State Government to ensure the nightshift at Yamba was maintained.

“Outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly have occurred at Griffith and Hillston, within the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone, and the Riverland’s only defence against this threat is a round-the-clock operation at the Yamba roadblock.” Mr. Whetstone said.

“It simply makes no sense to close the nightshift at Yamba, which will substantially increase the risk to the Riverland’s fruit and vegetable industries.”

Mr. Whetstone said that in estimates committee hearings earlier this year, Minister for Agriculture Michael O’Brien had admitted the Government was seeking a financial contribution from industry to maintain the nightshifts at the Yamba and Ceduna quarantine stations.

“The Minister’s announcement in October that it would close the nightshifts was effectively an attempt to bully our horticultural industries into paying for a service which has always been a Government responsibility.” Mr. Whetstone said.

“It was a reckless and short-sighted announcement which placed valuable export markets at risk by creating a perception in those markets that South Australia was no longer serious about biosecurity.”

“Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in NSW and Mediterranean fruit fly outbreaks in Adelaide provide all the evidence the Minister needs to understand the importance of maintaining 24-hour operations at Yamba and Ceduna, and protecting horticultural industries worth many millions of dollars to the State’s economy. Mr. Whetstone said.

“South Australia’s Quarantine Regime cannot be compromised.” Mr. Whetstone said.