Mr LUGG - 1997-11-26
Given that fruit growing is a major industry in the Darwin rural area, and the recent discovery of papaya fruit fly, why has the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service sniffer dog not been sighted for some weeks at Darwin International Airport?
Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr Coulter: It is a $50m industry, and you think it is not important.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the interjection by the member for Wanguri demonstrates clearly why this mob was decimated at the last election. As the Leader of Government Business ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: ... pointed out, the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory is worth in excess of $50m per annum. I would have thought it would be a matter of grave concern to members of this Assembly that, in recent days, papaya fruit fly has been found in the vicinity of the CSIRO facility at Berrimah. The outbreak of papaya fruit fly has the potential to damage irreparably the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory. I might add, Madam Deputy Speaker ...
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is Madam Speaker, isn't it?
Madam SPEAKER: I am sure you will remember soon. It is Madam Speaker.
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, honourable members will be aware also that I have reported in the past to this House on my dispute with the Commonwealth over the continued barrier arrangements at Darwin International Airport and other ports of entry into the Northern Territory. The Commonwealth decided unilaterally to renege on the agreement it had signed with the Northern Territory, under which officers of my department were to provide those barrier services on a contractual basis to the Commonwealth.
It came as a great shock to me to discover that the Commonwealth had acted unilaterally and without reference to my officers and had removed the sniffer dog from Darwin Airport earlier this month and sent it to Perth on higher duties. I am not saying that the presence or otherwise of the sniffer dog at Darwin Airport would have prevented the infestation of papaya fruit fly. What I am saying is that the horticultural industry of the Northern
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Territory, and the growers and families who depend on that industry, have the right to expect the highest of quarantine standards to be applied at Darwin International Airport, given our close links with the South-East Asian region, given that we share a similar tropical environment to the region, and given that many of the disease vectors that are in that region are capable of establishing themselves firmly in Darwin.
I have written in the strongest terms to Minister Anderson, requesting not only that he immediately return the sniffer dog we have lost, but also that he provide additional resources at Darwin International Airport because, unfortunately, one sniffer dog and one handler cannot maintain 24-hour, 7-day-a-week surveillance. I am confident that the officers of my department can eradicate the papaya fruit fly and hopefully this outbreak will not be as severe on the industry as the outbreak in Cairns was. However, we need to be able to assure, not only the industry here but also the industry throughout Australia and our export customers, that Darwin and the Northern Territory are adequately protected from similar outbreaks.
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Mr Bailey interjecting.
Mr Coulter: It is a $50m industry, and you think it is not important.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the interjection by the member for Wanguri demonstrates clearly why this mob was decimated at the last election. As the Leader of Government Business ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Mr PALMER: ... pointed out, the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory is worth in excess of $50m per annum. I would have thought it would be a matter of grave concern to members of this Assembly that, in recent days, papaya fruit fly has been found in the vicinity of the CSIRO facility at Berrimah. The outbreak of papaya fruit fly has the potential to damage irreparably the horticultural industry in the Northern Territory. I might add, Madam Deputy Speaker ...
Mr BAILEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! It is Madam Speaker, isn't it?
Madam SPEAKER: I am sure you will remember soon. It is Madam Speaker.
Mr PALMER: Madam Speaker, honourable members will be aware also that I have reported in the past to this House on my dispute with the Commonwealth over the continued barrier arrangements at Darwin International Airport and other ports of entry into the Northern Territory. The Commonwealth decided unilaterally to renege on the agreement it had signed with the Northern Territory, under which officers of my department were to provide those barrier services on a contractual basis to the Commonwealth.
It came as a great shock to me to discover that the Commonwealth had acted unilaterally and without reference to my officers and had removed the sniffer dog from Darwin Airport earlier this month and sent it to Perth on higher duties. I am not saying that the presence or otherwise of the sniffer dog at Darwin Airport would have prevented the infestation of papaya fruit fly. What I am saying is that the horticultural industry of the Northern
Page 16
Territory, and the growers and families who depend on that industry, have the right to expect the highest of quarantine standards to be applied at Darwin International Airport, given our close links with the South-East Asian region, given that we share a similar tropical environment to the region, and given that many of the disease vectors that are in that region are capable of establishing themselves firmly in Darwin.
I have written in the strongest terms to Minister Anderson, requesting not only that he immediately return the sniffer dog we have lost, but also that he provide additional resources at Darwin International Airport because, unfortunately, one sniffer dog and one handler cannot maintain 24-hour, 7-day-a-week surveillance. I am confident that the officers of my department can eradicate the papaya fruit fly and hopefully this outbreak will not be as severe on the industry as the outbreak in Cairns was. However, we need to be able to assure, not only the industry here but also the industry throughout Australia and our export customers, that Darwin and the Northern Territory are adequately protected from similar outbreaks.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016