Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last month I had the privilege of representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Murray Watt, when I was joined by the South Australian agriculture minister, the Hon. Clare Scriven, and board members of the Adelaide produce market for the launch of a $50 million biosecurity facility that is to be built at the Adelaide produce market next year.

The new facility will help secure and grow South Australia's $1.4 billion horticultural sector. It will save time and cost for South Australian growers, who currently have to send their produce to Brisbane or Melbourne for processing. It is expected to unlock $119 million in fresh produce exports over the next five years, and it will also create 172 direct and indirect jobs.

Importantly, it will greatly assist in managing and controlling fruit fly outbreaks, which cost the economy millions of dollars each year and certainly, over recent years, have been detrimental to South Australian growers. Indeed, there are outbreaks right now that are being managed.

Of course, the new facility will help maintain our growers' clean, green image and consumer confidence in South Australian produce. The Albanese government's $10 million investment in the new public privately funded biosecurity facility is a welcome investment in South Australia's horticultural sector.