Mrs BRAHAM - 2001-02-21
I raise this question on behalf of many families in Alice Springs. We were all concerned when the threat of fruit fly outbreak occurred in the Ti-Tree area and your department responded very quickly to control that outbreak. The Minister for Central Australia also went on record as saying that he would urge Alice Springs residents not to carry their fruit through the Ti-Tree area to spread the disease any further. It would be disastrous for the industry if it was to take hold.
But what about the families in Alice Springs? You have known for over three years now that fruit fly is rampant in the town and is destroying the back-yard fruit crops that many people rely on to supplement their diet and their income, and yet you have done nothing to control it in the Alice Springs area except put out a few traps. Now, if you are serious about protecting the commercial growers in Ti-Tree, how about protecting the domestic families in Alice Springs? If you attack the problem where it is happening then the rest of the area would not be subject to the threat of fruit fly.
Minister, will you put resources into the Alice Springs office to help eradicate the fruit fly that is going to destroy not just the Alice Springs family crops but any horticultural industry that is likely to come alive in Alice Springs, and around those surrounding areas, and particularly in Ti-Tree? It is a very important issue. Will you put resources into Alice Springs to eradicate the fruit fly?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is the first time in three years that the honourable member for Braitling has raised this with me as Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries as an issue of particular concern to people of Alice Springs. She must have finally got out to the electorate and had a look, and asked …
Mrs Braham: You are the minister for primary industry. You know what is going on.
Mr SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Burke: You were the Minister for Central Australia. You were supposed to be their spokesman, their advocate.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Let’s hear the from the minister.
Mr PALMER: I understand the concerns in Alice Springs, and I think that it was with the Mediterranean fruit fly, or the Queensland fruit fly. We are currently cooperating with South Australia looking at what they call a ‘neutered male program’ to implement in Alice Springs and to attempt to bring that particular animal under control. We will continue with that work and look toward being able to implement that in the future.
But what about the families in Alice Springs? You have known for over three years now that fruit fly is rampant in the town and is destroying the back-yard fruit crops that many people rely on to supplement their diet and their income, and yet you have done nothing to control it in the Alice Springs area except put out a few traps. Now, if you are serious about protecting the commercial growers in Ti-Tree, how about protecting the domestic families in Alice Springs? If you attack the problem where it is happening then the rest of the area would not be subject to the threat of fruit fly.
Minister, will you put resources into the Alice Springs office to help eradicate the fruit fly that is going to destroy not just the Alice Springs family crops but any horticultural industry that is likely to come alive in Alice Springs, and around those surrounding areas, and particularly in Ti-Tree? It is a very important issue. Will you put resources into Alice Springs to eradicate the fruit fly?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this is the first time in three years that the honourable member for Braitling has raised this with me as Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries as an issue of particular concern to people of Alice Springs. She must have finally got out to the electorate and had a look, and asked …
Mrs Braham: You are the minister for primary industry. You know what is going on.
Mr SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr Burke: You were the Minister for Central Australia. You were supposed to be their spokesman, their advocate.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Let’s hear the from the minister.
Mr PALMER: I understand the concerns in Alice Springs, and I think that it was with the Mediterranean fruit fly, or the Queensland fruit fly. We are currently cooperating with South Australia looking at what they call a ‘neutered male program’ to implement in Alice Springs and to attempt to bring that particular animal under control. We will continue with that work and look toward being able to implement that in the future.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016