1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: About a fungus, a virus that is hurting the tomato 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: industry and here in South Australia, and I see on 3 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: Frank Pangelo's Instagram he's been out to one grow up 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Affection Fresh in the Northern suburbs where they have filled 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: up a lot of bins and big bins. We're talking 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: not the mini skips you might have in your driveway 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: to get rid of some rubbish at home. These are 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: giant skips that are probably the best part of eight 9 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: nine meters long and two or three meters deep. They're 10 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: big bins and they filled up eight in one day, 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: just throwing away perfectly good tomatoes after the fungus was 12 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: found in one glasshouse on the farm. They're not the 13 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: only ones. Tony Sakker is from the Salvator Farms in Virginia. Tony, 14 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: good morning, good morning. 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 2: How are you all right? 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: Thank you? What's been happening out your way? 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: Well, basically, this forus came through about six weeks ago 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 2: into Virginia and there was suspected farms that got the virus. 19 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 2: Only two have been proven positive the rest haven't. So 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: what's happened is the prime industries around Australia, which is 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 2: all state run, have all started banning tomatoes from entering 22 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: the state. WA has Queensland have, and I think next 23 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 2: week New South Wales will. So it's created a big 24 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: crisis here in Virginia where sales of tomatoes we can't sell, 25 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: so they're basically going in the bin. So price is 26 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,040 Speaker 2: now of expensive interstate because they're not getting a lot 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: of supply and we're throwing them in the bin here. 28 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: And there's nothing wrong with the ones you're throwing away, presumably, no, no. 29 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 2: Definitely nothing wrong with them. And apparently this is data 30 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 2: coming from overseas. It's very hard to transmit the virus 31 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: through the product, so basically from plant to planet can 32 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 2: be transmitted fairly easily, I picked, it's very hard to 33 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: transmit into the into another onto another farm, basically into states. 34 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: So it's a minimal risk and a huge crisis happening 35 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 2: here in Virginia. 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: Okay, what's the answer here? It seems to me, and 37 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: I've been reading through PERSA websites since morning, it seems 38 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: to me we've kind of put in a COVID style, 39 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: panicked response to a problem that is not that big. 40 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's correct, Well, they've dealt with it overseas and 41 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 2: it's been dealt with and they've moved on. The sea 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: providers have also started developing. Well, they have got disease 43 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: resistant varieties, so the disease will not affect the plant. 44 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 2: It only affects the plant. So what happens is it 45 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 2: can't go full term, so it's devastating the plant itself. 46 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: It's not devastating the fruit. Free can still be picked 47 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: and gone through. So the long term answer to all 48 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 2: this is all states to work together. Maybe the federal 49 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 2: government should step in and coordinate this so we all 50 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: can keep trading and all together we all defeat problems 51 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: and it can be defeated. They've don't allowed to seats. 52 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: So you're saying, if it's in the plant, that plant 53 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 1: is worthless. It'll die of its ownar cord. 54 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, it will die in time. Yeah, that's correct, and 55 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 2: it might infect the next plan onwards ongoing, So it 56 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: could devastate a group of tomatoes. They still will be 57 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: down by thirty percent production. So basically, if you're going 58 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 2: to go one hundred percent production, if this virus hits 59 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 2: your farm, it hits the group that you've got the 60 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 2: tomatoes and it goes down by thirty percent, but this way, 61 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: if we stop trading, it leaves one hundred percent. 62 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 63 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, So that's that's the biggest issue. 64 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: All right. You like the state government to step in 65 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: here and say common sense needs to prevail over this 66 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: type of virus. 67 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 2: I think I think it should go federal because it's 68 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: not like Proparsa are not doing the right job. They're 69 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: trying to contain the virus. Now, unfortunately the testing has 70 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: been a bit slow, but they're trying to contain the virus, 71 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: and I believe they're doing their job. It's the other 72 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: spaces that are banning and saying it's your problem and 73 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: it's not our. So you, once you sort it out, 74 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 2: you let us know. We do approximately eighty percent of 75 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: production here in Virginia tomatoes that travel when our season 76 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: starts until four weeks time, until probably April, we do 77 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 2: nearly seventy to eighty percent of production for Australia White. 78 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 2: Now that means if they close their borders, there won't 79 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 2: be any tomatoes available into state and we will will 80 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: have a crisis here in Virginia where where all the 81 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: farms will start closing down, which we start are also 82 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 2: stopping watering our plants because we have no sales for 83 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: our product. 84 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I understand consumption of an infected tomato. I don't 85 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: know if it will taste any different, but there's no 86 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: effect on human health. 87 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 2: No, but it won't taste any different at all. Okay, 88 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 2: it just makes this fruit look a bit blotchy, that's 89 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: all it does, right, And there's nothing wrong with it 90 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: at all. It can be consumed, it can be enjoyed. 91 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:51,599 Speaker 2: But now it's been put in bins. 92 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: Yeah, all of it, though not just the infected fruit. 93 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 2: Well, it will just yeah, because the Queens have put 94 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: a banker blanket. Ban Wa have also done the same 95 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: thing and new files will only implement farms that are infected. 96 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 2: But because of the test results not coming in all 97 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 2: at the same time, and it's been a bit of 98 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:14,039 Speaker 2: a bit of a mess because we weren't prepared for it, 99 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: it's become they've created. It's become our problem in South Australia, 100 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 2: which it should be a national problem, and this is 101 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 2: where it's falling short nationally. They have to step in 102 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 2: and have to sort of out or else we'll have 103 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,039 Speaker 2: a huge class of losing millions up to billions of 104 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 2: dollars here in our state because we can't produce and 105 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: send tomatoes away. 106 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: All right, Tony, appreciate your time this morning. Thank you, 107 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: and hopefully, as you say, hopefully the federal government does 108 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: step in and organizes a nationwide approach to it. Frank Pangala, 109 00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: You've been out to Virginia. You've spoken with a different 110 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: group out there, Perfection Fresh. You've written to the premier 111 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 1: outlining the points essentially the same points Tony's made from 112 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: the Salvator Farms absolutally. 113 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 3: Look, the Affection Fresh is a massive operation. I didn't 114 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 3: realize how big it was until I went there the 115 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 3: other day, Probably one of the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. 116 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 3: And they employ up to twelve hundred people in peak 117 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 3: peak season and turn over millions of wallows. Now, when 118 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 3: I was speaking with the management and the KEITHH executive 119 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 3: Uncle simm and Eva the other day, they were frustrated 120 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 3: at the pace of the PERSA investigation and what they're 121 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: trying to do, and also the fact that they've instructed 122 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 3: them or ordered them to destroy perfectly good tomatoes. Now, 123 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 3: these are the variety of tomatoes that they produced there. 124 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 3: The solomatoes, you know, those small tomatoes that you see 125 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 3: in super or. 126 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 4: Well. 127 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 3: Attention Fresh do them exclusively for woolworks and coals around 128 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 3: the country. Is concerned that Perfection Press that if this 129 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 3: ban on their fruit continues, I'm perfectly good fruit that 130 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 3: I have to throw away, and we're talking about hundreds 131 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 3: of tons of this. They could go broke and there'll 132 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 3: be a loss of up to four hundred jobs and 133 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 3: the plantation at bull Wells may have to close down. 134 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 3: That's how concerned they are. And you know, the the 135 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 3: virus has been limited to a couple of their glass houses. 136 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 3: And when I talk glasshouses, Matt, you know, we're not 137 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 3: talking about the ones you normally see when you go 138 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 3: down for waitefill grun. These are massive. But they've managed 139 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 3: to contain it in there. There are only a few 140 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 3: points that they discovered. But Persia is now ordering that 141 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 3: you know, plants to be with out and destroyed and 142 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 3: they have to get rid of those other glasshouses aren't affected. 143 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: The other thing that Perfection Fresh have done is installed 144 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: their own testing laboratory. Did that very quickly, the tests 145 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 3: all the plants and tomatoes that they got in there, 146 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 3: and you know, so far they've managed to contain it. Now, 147 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 3: Toy is right. I think what's going to happen to 148 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 3: happen here is, you know, the gen is out of 149 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: the bottle now and one of the virus is now 150 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: being discovered in Australia and in In fact the first 151 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 3: place was perfection pressure, and they put their hands up 152 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 3: to say that they did have it. It may well 153 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 3: already be in other states, and no one's ever pobled 154 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 3: to nominate the authorities about it. The perfection pressure. It's 155 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 3: a pretty high tech operation there and they know how 156 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,439 Speaker 3: to contain and manage it. And perhaps this is what 157 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 3: the governments need to do now rather than trying eradicate 158 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 3: it as you mentioned well like COVID. Yeah, it just 159 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,719 Speaker 3: won't work, and it hasn't worked in other parts of 160 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 3: the world, in Europe and the Americas elsewhere. So they 161 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 3: just live with it. They've lived with for the last 162 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 3: five years, no problem. People still buy tomatoes, they eat them, 163 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 3: you know, I you know, I tasted a couple the 164 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 3: other day, no problem. You know, they do not cause 165 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: any harm whatsoever. 166 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: So it's just it just causes blutching, I understand, that's 167 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: all it does. 168 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 3: That's all it does. But of course, you know, but 169 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 3: to make it a widespread ban on the on the fruit, 170 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 3: even the good stuff, is ludicrous and it's costing this 171 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 3: business a lot of money and it could send it broke. 172 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: And you know, it's going to cost about twelve hundred 173 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 3: jobs if that's the case now, the jobs you can't 174 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 3: afford to lose. And look, it's I think that burs 175 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 3: are the sort of panic stricken at the moment, probably 176 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 3: unsure how to handle this. And what they need to 177 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 3: do is probably as with similar agencies across the world 178 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 3: that have already handled it and have got on with it, 179 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 3: you know. And I've spent around for a few years now, 180 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 3: so no point sort of trying to eradicate and keep 181 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 3: it all quiet, because that's what they want to do. 182 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 3: They want to keep it secrets so that own any people, 183 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 3: you know, just be open about it and tackle it, 184 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 3: you know, and you know, the primary industries especially have 185 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 3: a review of this ludicrous band on the style of 186 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: perfectly good fruit in South Australia. 187 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: Could it spread to other fruit Franklin capsicums or you know, 188 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: they're similarly grown produced fruit here. 189 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 3: Just a can and I think that's the other fear 190 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 3: that persa have got is that it might go on 191 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 3: to one of the only ones I think they think 192 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,959 Speaker 3: it could go to this Capsican chillies and possibly egg plant. 193 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 3: But again, you have to learn to manage these things, 194 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 3: just like you know with fruit fly. Now, there's a 195 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 3: massive fruitfly eradication program that's been going on in the 196 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 3: riverland I readon for the best part of three or 197 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: four years. Yes, they've spent hundreds of millions of dollars. 198 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 3: They've got workers that are just going for one property 199 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 3: or another spraying not only fruit brees, but also now 200 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: spraying native trees. Now, you know, personally, I think the 201 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 3: battle's lost with fruit fly, you know, and you've got 202 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 3: to learn to manage it and live with it rather 203 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: than tryan have an eradication program that is not going 204 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: to work. And this I've got to say, Nakie, this 205 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 3: is the that all this should be. The blame for 206 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 3: fruit b for instance, should go back to labor governments 207 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 3: years ago when they decided to spreamp the you know, 208 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 3: the ticking tick point stations at our borders and left 209 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 3: the two people on sort of on my basis, to 210 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 3: get rid of their fruit. Well, that didn't work, did it. 211 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 3: Of course, she can't stop fruit flin coming across the 212 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 3: Murray River and or being blown in. I mean, you know, 213 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 3: common sense has to prevail here. You can't keep trying 214 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 3: hundreds of millions of dollars at something when you know 215 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: that it's fusile. 216 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: Well, I know there's still a fruit fly testing or 217 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: you know the border checkpoint call it what you like 218 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: at Sjuna that there earlier this year, but in operation. 219 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: But anyway, Frank, appreciate your time this morning, and let 220 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 1: us know when you get a response from the premiere. 221 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,199 Speaker 1: Nicholas said a fan it's called in shadow primary Industries, 222 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: Minister Nicholas and a fan of good morning. What should 223 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: happen here? Should the government put a pause on the 224 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: eradication program the throwing away of perfectly good tomatoes? 225 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 5: Good morning, Matthew, thanks for having me. Look, I think 226 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 5: you know, the Opposition have been working pretty closely with 227 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 5: industry and with the Peak Industry body os EDGE on 228 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 5: this issue. And I've met with a number of growers, 229 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 5: and I've been in communications with the minister both formally 230 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:39,559 Speaker 5: and informally, and I think, Matthew, it is a really 231 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 5: difficult issue because we are facing more and more by 232 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 5: security risks every day and it is important that we 233 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 5: respond to them swiftly and adequately, and it's important that 234 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 5: confidence is maintained in the industry. You know, we have 235 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:56,239 Speaker 5: three sites affected in South Australia which are currently contained 236 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 5: and on the ground, I think there is a lot 237 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 5: of angst around the testing process and the message from 238 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 5: the glowers growers is pretty clear. They want more to 239 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 5: be done to expedite the laboratory testing and ensure that 240 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 5: test results are being released immediately, and it's my understanding 241 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 5: that pers are trying to speed up that process. However, 242 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 5: you know, when you are dealing with interstate facilities, you 243 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 5: know that is difficult to control. So we've employed implored 244 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 5: the Minister and indeed the Premiere to speak to their 245 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 5: account interstate counterpart to really work through those movement control 246 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 5: orders that we are seeing in WA and Queensland and 247 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 5: potentially in New South Wales and ensure the expedition of 248 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 5: the testing process wherever possible, because we really need to 249 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 5: prioritize South Australian growers because we are the industry that's 250 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 5: most affected at this time, and I think you know, 251 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 5: this situation needs leadership. I think we're seeing that from 252 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 5: an industry point of view. We just need to see 253 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 5: it from a political point of view as well. And 254 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 5: I think, you know, if it is is the national 255 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 5: position to eradicate this disease. I think that as the government, 256 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 5: when we are putting enforcements on individual businesses for the 257 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,559 Speaker 5: greater good, that is the containment an eradication of these 258 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 5: exotic diseases. And absolutely should be consideration for compensation for 259 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 5: those businesses for the stock that they have to destroy. 260 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 5: And Matthew, I just make the point the government currently 261 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 5: have a Bisecurity Act before Parliament, and I've made some 262 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 5: comments around that act. Is in my strong view that 263 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 5: the role of government should be the continuously reviewed test 264 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 5: species and diseases review, the latest science and review response 265 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 5: processes to these threats of disease outbreak. You know, at 266 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 5: the end of the day, we need to let our 267 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 5: farmers farm, and the government's role should be to ensure 268 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,359 Speaker 5: that they can do that with the confidence to minimize 269 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 5: the risk of disease. And can I just make one 270 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 5: more comment as well, you know, just on that fruit 271 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 5: quality and the blotching. I think this is a bigger question. 272 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 5: You know, I've spoken about it before around supermarkets and 273 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 5: consumers being educated to consider imperfect fruit. Just because it 274 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 5: doesn't look perfect doesn't mean it's not okay to eat 275 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 5: physically healthy to eat. 276 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: We do like buying the perfect stuff though, as consumers 277 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: we do. 278 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 5: But why, Matthew. 279 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 4: You know, we just need to be educated. 280 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 5: It doesn't need to look perfect for it to taste good. 281 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 5: In fact, some of the best fruits that I've tasted 282 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 5: have been the ones that are imperfect and don't look good. Okay, 283 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 5: we just need to all open our minds. 284 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: I think as a riverland person, Frank's point regarding fruitfly 285 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,280 Speaker 1: and the millions we spent trying to eradicated in the riverland, 286 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: are we wasting money? Should we learn to live with fruitfly? 287 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 5: Look, Matthew, there are many outbreak areas in the Riverland 288 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 5: that actually haven't had detections of fruit fly for several months. 289 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 5: It's just the way that they're being regulated. It means 290 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 5: that they cannot actually come out of that outbreak zone 291 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 5: until the whole of the region doesn't have any fly 292 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 5: fruit fly detections. So, you know, my conversations with those 293 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 5: people that are heading up the fruit fly team is 294 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 5: that they actually think that they are confident that they 295 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 5: are getting on top of this eradication now, you know, 296 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 5: we know, I mean you can only look over across 297 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 5: the border to know, you know, Victoria, you know, Queensland, 298 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 5: all these places that have fruit fly. How difficult it is. 299 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 5: Not just for the industry, by the way, but for 300 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 5: backyard for people that want to grow trees in their 301 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 5: backyard without having you know, maggots when they bite into 302 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 5: their piece of fruit, because that is essentially what fruit 303 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 5: fly is, biting into a piece of fruit and getting 304 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 5: a mouthful of maggots. So, you know, I think that 305 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 5: I think that certainly in the Riverland, you know, we're 306 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 5: working very very hard to eradicate fruit fly, and I 307 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 5: don't think we should be giving up at this point 308 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 5: tim time. You know, I think that, like I said, 309 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 5: there's there's confidence that's coming out of those people that 310 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 5: are you know, at the heart of the program saying look, 311 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 5: there are so many areas that we actually haven't had 312 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 5: detections in. So you know, I think we've got it. 313 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 5: We've got to allow them to continue on with their work. 314 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: Nicholas sina Fani, thanks for calling. In thanks for having 315 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: me shadow primary Industries. Minister David's called in from the 316 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: Adelaide Hills. David, good morning. 317 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 4: Now, I'm a long term a grow business owner and 318 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 4: multi generation about these kind of wars have gone on 319 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,879 Speaker 4: a grow business forever. Back in the nineties. It was 320 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 4: owed by Johnny's disease. I had to have every cow 321 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 4: in my dairy heard tests multiple times and it wasn't 322 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 4: allowed of sell milk. During that we circule, I proved 323 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 4: I was clear. Nobody mentioned it. People I know down 324 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 4: Langan's Creek grow grain. They had the flight with the 325 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 4: straight stripe mosaic virus in wheat and such things. Nobody 326 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 4: mentioned it, but there was affecting your loaf of bread. Now, 327 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 4: us as farmers and I find it sad about mister 328 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 4: Pangelo's position. If we give up the battle on these things, 329 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,439 Speaker 4: we will have to either increase the processing of your food, 330 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 4: increasing the cost, or use harsh chemicals with environmental consequences 331 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 4: to hold these pests at bay, increasing your cost and 332 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 4: potentially putting long term poisons into the food cycle. We 333 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 4: have an incredible advantage in Australia that a lot of 334 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 4: the overseas pests and diseases are not here. If we 335 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 4: give up this fight, how long before we start getting 336 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 4: stuff like mad cow or yeah, all kinds of horrific 337 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 4: diseases that exist overseas, some of which can easily jump 338 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 4: to humans and be absolutely horrific. How would it be 339 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 4: if we end up with one of those diseases and 340 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,439 Speaker 4: I struggle for a dame at the moment where a 341 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 4: rancid dog or a ka while a bite you and 342 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 4: you end up with rape? 343 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: All right, David, thank you. It's a fair point, that's 344 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: for sure.