❓ Ms. Quirk asks the Premier about supporting WA strawberry producers after contamination incidents. The Premier expresses support, outlines government actions like a reward for information, and encourages continued consumption of WA strawberries.
AnsweredQoN 666Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY
666. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I
refer to the hardworking strawberry producers across Western Australia and the
disgraceful actions that have recently been taken to contaminate Western Australian
strawberries and damage this industry. Can the Premier outline to the house why
Western Australians should continue buying strawberries and supporting this
important industry? Can he advise what the McGowan Labor government is doing to
help? I am very pleased he is promoting strawberry daiquiris.
666. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the Premier:
I
refer to the hardworking strawberry producers across Western Australia and the
disgraceful actions that have recently been taken to contaminate Western Australian
strawberries and damage this industry. Can the Premier outline to the house why
Western Australians should continue buying strawberries and supporting this
important industry? Can he advise what the McGowan Labor government is doing to
help? I am very pleased he is promoting strawberry daiquiris.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Girrawheen
for her advocacy for the state's strawberry growers and the strawberry
industry. I think all Western Australians have been shocked and appalled by
what we have seen—the deliberate tampering with fruit, in particular
strawberries, in our state and across Australia. I think every member of
Parliament would join me in wanting to express our support for our strawberry
growers, their workforces and families all over Western Australia and encourage
all Western Australians to continue to eat this delicious fruit, which is
locally grown and supports Western Australian families and workers in our
state. What we have seen occur has shocked the entire nation. The fact that it
appears that today a primary school student at Willetton Primary School bit
into a strawberry with a needle in it is beyond description in its depravity
and evilness. I say to all Western Australians that this sort of conduct that
the people who have done this have engaged in is clearly unacceptable and is
unlawful. People are subject to a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment if
they are caught tampering with fruit in this way. The fraud squad is currently
investigating the cases that have come to light in Western Australia.
This morning we announced that we
would be offering a $100 000 reward for any information that leads to the conviction of someone for tampering with
strawberries in this way. We expect the police to pursue these cases strongly and effectively to try to get to the bottom
of what has occurred. The families and the businesses that grow strawberries are good, honest hardworking people, who are
engaged in a difficult industry in which they have to work very hard. The quality of the product in Western Australia is second to none. I encourage
every single Western Australian to continue to consume strawberries. They
should beware that in the current environment they should merely cut them in
half just to check that they have not been tampered with, but I think that we
should encourage all Western Australians to continue to eat Western Australian
strawberries. Without meaning to be frivolous or flippant, in this vein I want
to demonstrate to Western Australians that our strawberries in our state are
high-quality and excellent. I encourage every Western Australian to continue to
eat Western Australian–grown strawberries.
for her advocacy for the state's strawberry growers and the strawberry
industry. I think all Western Australians have been shocked and appalled by
what we have seen—the deliberate tampering with fruit, in particular
strawberries, in our state and across Australia. I think every member of
Parliament would join me in wanting to express our support for our strawberry
growers, their workforces and families all over Western Australia and encourage
all Western Australians to continue to eat this delicious fruit, which is
locally grown and supports Western Australian families and workers in our
state. What we have seen occur has shocked the entire nation. The fact that it
appears that today a primary school student at Willetton Primary School bit
into a strawberry with a needle in it is beyond description in its depravity
and evilness. I say to all Western Australians that this sort of conduct that
the people who have done this have engaged in is clearly unacceptable and is
unlawful. People are subject to a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment if
they are caught tampering with fruit in this way. The fraud squad is currently
investigating the cases that have come to light in Western Australia.
This morning we announced that we
would be offering a $100 000 reward for any information that leads to the conviction of someone for tampering with
strawberries in this way. We expect the police to pursue these cases strongly and effectively to try to get to the bottom
of what has occurred. The families and the businesses that grow strawberries are good, honest hardworking people, who are
engaged in a difficult industry in which they have to work very hard. The quality of the product in Western Australia is second to none. I encourage
every single Western Australian to continue to consume strawberries. They
should beware that in the current environment they should merely cut them in
half just to check that they have not been tampered with, but I think that we
should encourage all Western Australians to continue to eat Western Australian
strawberries. Without meaning to be frivolous or flippant, in this vein I want
to demonstrate to Western Australians that our strawberries in our state are
high-quality and excellent. I encourage every Western Australian to continue to
eat Western Australian–grown strawberries.
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