Fruit fly larvae still being found at infected sites but control measures halt the spread: Biosecurity Tasmania

Fruit Growers Tasmania president Nick Hansen said growers had been working cooperatively with the state government and Biosecurity Tasmania to follow the strict protocols in place.

“Cold disinfectant protocols [cold storage] has been a big treatment option as has fumigation of fruit,” Mr Hansen said.

A commercial fumigation site in Devonport has been available to affected growers, which is at a new site after four Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment workers fell ill after working at the original facility at the Devonport Airport.

It is suspected they were exposed to fumigation chemical methyl bromide, which can cause symptoms ranging from headache and nausea, slurred speech, temporary blindness and, in some cases, death.

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Mr Hansen said growers had been pleased with the state government’s response and particularly with newly minted Primary Industries Minister Sarah Courtney.

“I only received the Primary Industries portfolio a week ago but this is my highest priority, to eradicate fruit fly  from Tasmania,” Ms Courtney said.

Mr Hansen said Ms Courtney had been personally phoning affected growers, to discuss the outbreak.

On Tuesday, Ms Courtney issued a ‘please explain’ to the Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, after fruit fly was detected on two occasions on fruit imported from treatment facilities in Victoria. 

Ms Pulford said Victoria took its fruit fly challenge very seriously.

“Fruit fly is a national issue and one I’ve discussed with Tasmania’s new Minister for Primary Industries and her predecessor,” Ms Pulford said.

“I have reassured Minister Courtney that we will share what we’ve learned in our fruit fly fight and support Tasmania’s push for a national approach.”

An investigation into how fruit fly from treated facilities arrived in Tasmania from Victoria is ongoing.

Biosecurity Tasmania chief executive Lloyd Klumpp said larvae and flies were still being found at infected sites but it was promising that no detection had been found outside the control areas.

He said it was not unusual to be still finding flies but Biosecurity Tasmania staff were determined to eradicate the pest.

While a turn for cooler weather may help the situation, Mr Klumpp said it was important everyone remained vigilant.

“We can’t expect the weather to do our job for us,” he said.

He said the department remained optimistic fruit fly could be eradicated from Tasmania.

Opposition Primary Industries spokesman Shane Broad said the government needed to do an urgent overhaul of the response system.

“The government seem to be taking this ‘everything’s fine’ approach and clearly it’s not fine,” he said.

“They are not learning from their mistakes.”

Mr Broad said fruit fly was a significant issue for Tasmania and he expected to see more communication to the public than had occurred.

“Most people would be unaware that they can’t buy fruit in Devonport and take it to Ulverstone,” he said.

He said he expected to see more scrutiny of the supermarket supply chain after the most recent detection in southern Tasmania.

Larvae was first found in a Devonport supermarket from a treated facility in Devonport and now we’ve had another instance in Hobart; we need to be lifting lids on boxes,” he said.

He said more information needed to be disseminated at point of sale systems at supermarkets to increase awareness.

“We are lucky the public is being extra vigilant,” he said.