Mr BARRETT - 2015-04-30
Can the minister update the House on how the Northern Territory banana freckle eradication program is tracking?
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for his question. All the Palmerston-based members have been leaders in this field. They have led the charge within the Palmerston region, recognising the importance of eradicating banana freckle in their area.
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to inform the House that more than 99% of households affected by this have complied with the campaign. Banana plants have been destroyed at more than 9000 properties while another 32 000 properties have allowed field teams to undertake surveillance on their land. A total of more than 41 000 properties have been visited by the banana freckle inspectors. That is no small undertaking and I give full credit to the state coordinator, Kevin Cooper, and his 220-odd staff involved in this. They have worked tirelessly on this national eradication campaign to ensure the NT is free from banana freckle. I also thank the more than 41 000 residents who have rallied with us to support the biosecurity of Australia and the Northern Territory. Together we recognise the importance of the future of our banana industry, which will not exist if we have banana freckle in the Northern Territory.
There are around 80 properties left in the red zone which continue to show resistance to the eradication campaign. That is only 80 of some 41 000 properties showing resistance, and that number is dropping daily. I am particularly pleased to note that a gentlemen with a large farm has, in the last few days, seen the light, so to speak, and complied with the request of the banana freckle response team to destroy his plants. This gentleman is now in the process of destroying his own plants. We are getting some fantastic cooperation.
Today is the deadline for this phase of eradication and as from tomorrow people are reminded that destruction of their plants is compulsory. Those who do not destroy their plants risk a fine and the involvement of authorities in actioning this important program for the biosecurity of the Territory.
I urge those people who have dug their heels in and continue to do so to rethink their position on this. They are placing the biosecurity of the Northern Territory at risk by entrenching themselves in this position of not allowing inspectors to do their job.
I commend those 41 000 people, and all of the banana growers who have cooperated with this campaign as we move into the next stage. I hope those people who have continued to dig their heels in will see the light in the next few days.
ANSWER
Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the member for his question. All the Palmerston-based members have been leaders in this field. They have led the charge within the Palmerston region, recognising the importance of eradicating banana freckle in their area.
It gives me a great deal of pleasure to inform the House that more than 99% of households affected by this have complied with the campaign. Banana plants have been destroyed at more than 9000 properties while another 32 000 properties have allowed field teams to undertake surveillance on their land. A total of more than 41 000 properties have been visited by the banana freckle inspectors. That is no small undertaking and I give full credit to the state coordinator, Kevin Cooper, and his 220-odd staff involved in this. They have worked tirelessly on this national eradication campaign to ensure the NT is free from banana freckle. I also thank the more than 41 000 residents who have rallied with us to support the biosecurity of Australia and the Northern Territory. Together we recognise the importance of the future of our banana industry, which will not exist if we have banana freckle in the Northern Territory.
There are around 80 properties left in the red zone which continue to show resistance to the eradication campaign. That is only 80 of some 41 000 properties showing resistance, and that number is dropping daily. I am particularly pleased to note that a gentlemen with a large farm has, in the last few days, seen the light, so to speak, and complied with the request of the banana freckle response team to destroy his plants. This gentleman is now in the process of destroying his own plants. We are getting some fantastic cooperation.
Today is the deadline for this phase of eradication and as from tomorrow people are reminded that destruction of their plants is compulsory. Those who do not destroy their plants risk a fine and the involvement of authorities in actioning this important program for the biosecurity of the Territory.
I urge those people who have dug their heels in and continue to do so to rethink their position on this. They are placing the biosecurity of the Northern Territory at risk by entrenching themselves in this position of not allowing inspectors to do their job.
I commend those 41 000 people, and all of the banana growers who have cooperated with this campaign as we move into the next stage. I hope those people who have continued to dig their heels in will see the light in the next few days.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016