1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: Let's return to our chat about tomatoes and the virus 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: that is causing farms to well throw away tons of 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: tomatoes in the Northern suburbs and the food bowl area 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: they're Clearscriven is the primary industry's minister and she joins 5 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: me now, minister, good morning, good morning, making should we 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: be throwing them away? It doesn't affect human health, it 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: discolors the tomatoes. Surely they can be still sold to 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: people who are prepared to buy them from these farms. 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 2: So the issue is what the rest of the country 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 2: will do if we lift the quarantine measures that we 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 2: currently have in place. So at the moment, the affected 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: properties can't move their fruit, and when it comes to seeds, 13 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: the affected properties that produce seeds and seedlings also can't 14 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: move theirs. Now, if we were to lift those restrictions, 15 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 2: and I absolutely understand some of the rationale about why 16 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: we would like to do that, but if we were 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: to do that, the chances are very very high that 18 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 2: the rest of Australia will close its borders to all 19 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: the South Australia's tomatoes, jellies and caprikuins, and those industries 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: are worth two hudred and thirty million dollars at the 21 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: farm gate. So we really can't take that risk until 22 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: we know more about this disease and how it has 23 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 2: got into South Australia. But it's more importantly that we're 24 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: able to get the results back of the extenses something 25 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: that we've done to find out whether other premises are infected. 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: How long is that going to take because that's an 27 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: issue that farmers have. 28 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 2: Oh absolutely, and I'll be really honest, it's been very 29 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 2: frustrating that it's taken as long as it has. We 30 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: do have a good number back, but we're still waiting 31 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: on others. So we have been doing everything we can. 32 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 2: We sent staff over interstate to be able to assist. 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,759 Speaker 2: We're exploring other opportunities around that, and we have asked 34 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: the Lamb's interstate to prioritize the testing for us, but 35 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: it is still taking some time. And I certainly shared 36 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: a frustration of the producers on this. 37 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: In other parts of the world, I understand they live 38 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: with this disease, they manage it, you know, they live 39 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: with it. Now, Okay, I understand if there's only a 40 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: small area that's affected and eradication is a possibility of 41 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: removing it once and for all. Well, we should probably 42 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: go down that path at this stage. But is it 43 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: something eventually we will have to live with. I mean, 44 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: if it's only discoloring the fruit and it doesn't affect 45 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: human health, does it really matter. 46 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 2: Look, it does because it can reduce yield by up 47 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: to seventy five percent, So that is a huge potential impact. 48 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: So if we can eradicate it, we want to eradicate it. 49 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: And that's the case not just here in South Australia 50 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 2: but across the country. That's the that's the view. If 51 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: we can eradicate, absolutely we want to because it will 52 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 2: reduce yield by up to seventy five percent. But if 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: it gets to the stage where it's clear it can't 54 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: be eradicated, then that's of course a different story. And 55 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 2: that's when we move to what's caughter management lane. 56 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: Should there be compensation for the farmers affected? 57 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: So when we have a national response to an outbreak 58 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: of a disease, there are certain things that can kick 59 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,679 Speaker 2: in around compensation. Now, those businesses that are a signatory 60 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 2: to a national deed have a pathway. For those that aren't, 61 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 2: it's a little bit more complicated, but we are going 62 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: to be workings through that, both on the stip on 63 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: the national level about what might be available. 64 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: Should there be a national approach to this that the 65 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: federal government, and one of the growers this morning was 66 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: saying that that it needs the Feds to step in 67 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: and oversee this. The problem is, you know, the issue 68 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: where we're at today is an overreach according to growers, 69 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: that we've almost gone down the COVID path in shutting 70 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: the place down, putting in state border rights again and 71 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: all of that, when what it needs is a federal 72 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: approach to save the industry, to save growers and ensure 73 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: their viability moving forward. 74 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: Yes, so look, there is a national response. So there's 75 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: a national committee that has been established. It's already met 76 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: a number of times. It receives the technical advice from 77 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: the scientists who are providing as much information as they 78 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: possibly can on the disease, and then that advice is 79 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: shared with and territories through this national committee. Now it 80 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: is then up to the states and territories. They do 81 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: have the right to impose their own bands, but we 82 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: are obviously encouraging them to go with the evidence and 83 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: the evidence that's being presented at those national meetings. 84 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: And that the moment is a jury still out on 85 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: that evidence. I mean you must have an idea given 86 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: all the tests done so far, as to what the 87 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: next step should be. 88 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. So at the moment, the tests that have come 89 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: in from other jurisdictions and from a number of South 90 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: Australian sites have will been negative. So that indicates that 91 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: the disease is not elsewhere, and until we have evidence 92 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 2: to the contrary, we need to be working on that 93 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 2: assumption and trying to eradicate it here where the three 94 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: affected properties are. 95 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: Okay, so other properties here can trade as normal. 96 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: Yes, to an extent. So each state, as I said, 97 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 2: can make their own decisions. Queensland and Western Australia are 98 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: not accepting any fruit from South Australia. Whales is not 99 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 2: accepting fruit from the affected promises, our premises and premises 100 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: that are linked to it at the moment. The other 101 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: states and territories don't have any bands in place, but 102 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: the quarantine that's in place is around those affected properties 103 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: and that is something that we simply have to do. 104 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 2: Because I appreciate the views are saying that this is overage, 105 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 2: but there's been other feedback saying we definitely want to 106 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: make sure that we don't shut yet we don't encourage 107 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 2: other states to shut their borders to us to all 108 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: of our fruit because this is incredibly difficult for those 109 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: affected properties at the moment, the effected properties, but it 110 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: will be even worse if all of South Australia's fruit 111 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: is not apt to trade into states. 112 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: Well, absolutely, and ultimately that'll only drive up the cost 113 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: of tomatoes, won't it, which in a cost of living crisis. 114 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: I mean, who doesn't have a tomato as part of 115 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: a meal somewhere, whether it's in sauce or in a salad. 116 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: Fresh tomatoes are everywhere and cost of living, price of 117 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: the red apple goes up. It just makes it harder 118 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: for all. 119 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: Look, it certainly does, and so that's why we're doing 120 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 2: everything that we can. So for example, New South Wales 121 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: has said that they will be able to accept our 122 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: produce if people can show that they've got a negative test. 123 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: For as far as Western Australia is working through what 124 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 2: their protocol will be, So it's I guess constantly changing, 125 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: but we're doing everything that we can. And I think 126 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,479 Speaker 2: first as the Department is doing everything they can to 127 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: work on this so that we can get on top 128 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: of it as soon as possible. 129 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: Any idea of a time frame for that, how long 130 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: I wish I could. 131 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 2: Give a definite timeframe. It's a matter of waiting for 132 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: those tests to come back and then if there are 133 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 2: additional positives then obviously that would be unfortunate, but that 134 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 2: would change the situation again. 135 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: Otherwise, what a week, a month, how long? 136 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 2: Look, it's already been some weeks. We are pressing for 137 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: the lamps to prioritize us as much as possible, so 138 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: you know, as soon as that those samples come back, 139 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: will be lending businesses. If individual business have been able 140 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: to show that all of their samples are a negative, 141 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: of course will let them know and that will then 142 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: give them the opportunity, for example, to trade the New 143 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 2: South Wales who said that they will take fruit if 144 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: people have got a negative test. 145 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: All right, minister, appreciate your time. Thank you, Thanks very much, 146 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: Beth Claires Gribbin, who is the Minister for Primary Industries 147 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: here in South Australia. So wait and see essentially is 148 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 1: what the Minister is saying. It'll come down the test 149 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: results in the immediate short term to determine what the 150 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: next steps are. Hopefully they're negative and the industry can 151 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: get back to normal. But in the meantime there are 152 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 1: growers who are filling up big bins of tomatoes, just unreal.