Ms BURNET – I have some questions around crop overspray. One of our constituents has been patiently and politely trying to find out for years what the chemical makeup is in the spray that drifts over his property, his veggie gardens and his family. He has video footage and soil testing revealing amounts of dangerous chemicals. This testing isn’t useful because by the time the departmental office does the testing, the active ingredients degrade. He’s tried to write to the orchard to define what chemicals are used and what dosage. That request has been denied. He’s tried writing to find out via RTI through the department, to work out what chemicals have been settling on his food that he grows and eats.
Why is he not allowed to have access to the spray register of his neighbour. Will you step in and demand that spray registers are made available on request?
Ms HOWLETT – I thank the member for her question. I’m aware that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania has been investigating the complaints raised by Hayden Pearsons regarding spray over-drift. I’ll hand over to the department to discuss the details of this investigation.
Ms WILSON – I’ll talk at the principal level. Obviously, that’s appropriate when we’re dealing with any neighbourhood matters, and particularly any issues of that nature. As you know, the use of agricultural chemicals in Tasmania is regulated under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1995 and its code and practices. It sits within a national framework, and that’s actually quite important.
A review of that has commenced, but it has been paused at the moment. Biosecurity Tasmania is proactively reviewing our legislation with a view to incorporating any of the agreed national reforms, as well as any other improvements, to ensure the continued effectiveness of our agricultural chemical regulatory controls. It is important to note that we would undertake a consultation process around any such changes, and to ensure that all parties who might have an interest in that matter are able to put forward their views.
Minister, unless there’s something else?
Ms HOWLETT – No, you’ve answered the response thoroughly. Thank you.
Ms BURNET – As a secondary question into that, will you commit to reviewing and strengthening the conditions orchards operate under, and also commit to prosecuting those that contravene the standards? Is that part of the review?
Ms WILSON – Our reviews of legislation always look to where we can improve the regulations. We have an act at the moment, we do not have a gap. When we look at the review, we’ll look at the agreed national reforms to see if they’re appropriate to put in place in Tasmania. We will undertake consultation. On whether we would take particular action for contraventions ‑ if someone raises a complaint with us, the agency investigates. The agency then determines if there is a potential breach or otherwise and would act appropriately.
Ms BURNET – Timeline? Sorry, I didn’t understand the timeline with the review.
Ms WILSON – We’ve commenced the internal process of review, based on the national framework.
Ms BURNET – When is the end of that likely to be?
Ms HOWLETT – The process has commenced internally.
