❓ A parliamentary question asks about increased Mediterranean fruit fly numbers, government action, and the impact of fenthion loss. The Minister provides a general response about ongoing efforts and grower responsibility.
AnsweredQoN 918Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD — MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY
918. Hon DARREN WEST to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Has the
Department of Agriculture and Food identified any increase in Mediterranean
fruit fly numbers compared with the equivalent period last year?
(2) If yes to (1), which areas?
(3) What action
is the government taking to ensure that there is not a population surge of
Mediterranean fruit fly this summer?
The
PRESIDENT : The minister for
fruit fly!
OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD — MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY
918. Hon DARREN WEST to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Has the
Department of Agriculture and Food identified any increase in Mediterranean
fruit fly numbers compared with the equivalent period last year?
(2) If yes to (1), which areas?
(3) What action
is the government taking to ensure that there is not a population surge of
Mediterranean fruit fly this summer?
The
PRESIDENT : The minister for
fruit fly!
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you, Mr President; as the
minister for everything, I will see if I can go over this!
(1)–(3)
Obviously, I do not know exactly what the department has done on that, but I do
know that it is onto fruit fly very regularly and puts a lot of effort into the
control of it. Obviously, it is important that fruit fly is brought under
control, because if there is any chance of exporting a product, we need that
fruit fly down. We are looking at the opportunities for getting it down as much
as possible. Behind all this, of course, was the loss of fenthion, which is a
chemical that is not regarded as good for people's health, and
therefore, of course, its use has been restricted. The management is now much
more around managing the orchards—in other words, picking the bad fruit
off the ground. Management regulations exist, having passed through this house,
that state what growers have to do. Growers are responding to that very well,
as far as I am concerned.
minister for everything, I will see if I can go over this!
(1)–(3)
Obviously, I do not know exactly what the department has done on that, but I do
know that it is onto fruit fly very regularly and puts a lot of effort into the
control of it. Obviously, it is important that fruit fly is brought under
control, because if there is any chance of exporting a product, we need that
fruit fly down. We are looking at the opportunities for getting it down as much
as possible. Behind all this, of course, was the loss of fenthion, which is a
chemical that is not regarded as good for people's health, and
therefore, of course, its use has been restricted. The management is now much
more around managing the orchards—in other words, picking the bad fruit
off the ground. Management regulations exist, having passed through this house,
that state what growers have to do. Growers are responding to that very well,
as far as I am concerned.
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