❓ Question addresses Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak in the Ord River valley, seeking quarantine measures. Answer outlines existing surveillance, eradication efforts, planned feasibility study for a regional biosecurity approach, and current information dissemination strategies.
AnsweredQoN 1125Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Given that the Mediterranean fruit fly has been found in the Ord River valley, what consideration has been given to either - (a) the establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra for north-bound travellers; and (b) the erection of warning signs in the provision of suitable bins north of Halls Creek requiring all north-bound travellers to dispose of all fruit at that point? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra specifically to minimise the risk of establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly is not considered to be a cost-effective option. The Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance system used in Kununurra is based on world’s best practice. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has developed an enhanced capacity to target Mediterranean fruit fly eradication through the environmentally friendly option of using sterile Mediterranean fruit fly males. Based on both north-south and south-north quarantine considerations, the Department of Agriculture plans to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a checkpoint in the west Kimberley and other options as part of a long-term regional biosecurity approach to deal with cross-industry biosecurity issues. The study will be completed during 2003 and will provide an opportunity for industry input. Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
(b) the erection of warning signs in the provision of suitable bins north of Halls Creek requiring all north-bound travellers to dispose of all fruit at that point?
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra specifically to minimise the risk of establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly is not considered to be a cost-effective option. The Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance system used in Kununurra is based on world’s best practice. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has developed an enhanced capacity to target Mediterranean fruit fly eradication through the environmentally friendly option of using sterile Mediterranean fruit fly males. Based on both north-south and south-north quarantine considerations, the Department of Agriculture plans to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a checkpoint in the west Kimberley and other options as part of a long-term regional biosecurity approach to deal with cross-industry biosecurity issues. The study will be completed during 2003 and will provide an opportunity for industry input. Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
Establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra specifically to minimise the risk of establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly is not considered to be a cost-effective option. The Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance system used in Kununurra is based on world’s best practice. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has developed an enhanced capacity to target Mediterranean fruit fly eradication through the environmentally friendly option of using sterile Mediterranean fruit fly males. Based on both north-south and south-north quarantine considerations, the Department of Agriculture plans to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a checkpoint in the west Kimberley and other options as part of a long-term regional biosecurity approach to deal with cross-industry biosecurity issues. The study will be completed during 2003 and will provide an opportunity for industry input. Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
[See paper No 1309.]
(b) the erection of warning signs in the provision of suitable bins north of Halls Creek requiring all north-bound travellers to dispose of all fruit at that point?
I thank the member for some notice of this question. Establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra specifically to minimise the risk of establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly is not considered to be a cost-effective option. The Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance system used in Kununurra is based on world’s best practice. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has developed an enhanced capacity to target Mediterranean fruit fly eradication through the environmentally friendly option of using sterile Mediterranean fruit fly males. Based on both north-south and south-north quarantine considerations, the Department of Agriculture plans to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a checkpoint in the west Kimberley and other options as part of a long-term regional biosecurity approach to deal with cross-industry biosecurity issues. The study will be completed during 2003 and will provide an opportunity for industry input. Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
Establishment of a quarantine checkpoint south of Kununurra specifically to minimise the risk of establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly is not considered to be a cost-effective option. The Mediterranean fruit fly surveillance system used in Kununurra is based on world’s best practice. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has developed an enhanced capacity to target Mediterranean fruit fly eradication through the environmentally friendly option of using sterile Mediterranean fruit fly males. Based on both north-south and south-north quarantine considerations, the Department of Agriculture plans to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a checkpoint in the west Kimberley and other options as part of a long-term regional biosecurity approach to deal with cross-industry biosecurity issues. The study will be completed during 2003 and will provide an opportunity for industry input. Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
Large full-colour posters are strategically positioned at all camping and caravan parks and other accommodation areas within the Ord River irrigation area. Amnesty bins have been installed on the Tanami and Duncan Highways prior to Halls Creek. There has been extensive distribution of information sheets and brochures to tourists and a comprehensive media campaign. I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
I have additional information. The following has occurred in recent months: 8 000 fruit fly information sheets - in German, Japanese, French and English - have been developed and distributed throughout the region since November 2002. One thousand copies of the brochure “Biosecurity and the Tourism Industry” have been distributed through the Department of Agriculture and the Broome and Kununurra tourism offices since October 2002. Two specific Mediterranean fruit fly media releases were issued by the Department of Agriculture in July and August 2003 and published in the Broome Advertiser and The Kimberley Echo . A media feature article titled “Motorists: observing quarantine measures into WA” was printed by the Broome Advertiser , The Kimberley Echo and the Department of Agriculture’s emergency services for distribution to newspapers in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory in June 2003. A media article titled “Avoid inconvenience when travelling in the north” was published in the Have a Go News in May 2003. “Keep it clean - Quarantine” display banners have been on exhibition at the Kununurra Tourism Bureau since May 2003. The Kununurra Show of July 2003 had a biosecurity focus on fruit flies, weeds and quarantine. Posters in the Ord River irrigation area show where people should dispose of fruit. The Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley provides distinctive yellow Sulo bins, the contents of which are disposed of weekly by Department of Agriculture staff free of charge. [See paper No 1309.]
[See paper No 1309.]
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