Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Forshaw for his question. I know he maintains an interest in the agriculture portfolio. The Gillard government is working closely with states and territories on the issue of plague locusts. I recently met with my state counterparts from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to discuss the national situation for a collective response to this threat. This season could see some areas of Victoria facing their worst locust infestation for up to 75 years. With half a million hectares already affected, this year’s outbreak puts at risk a $2 billion crop in Victoria alone. Managing this threat and limiting the damage can only be achieved through a concerted and collaborative effort between government agencies and individual landholders.

To prepare for the actions required to minimise locust damage to crops and pastures in these areas, the Australian Plague Locust Commission, agencies from the affected states and national interest groups have been working positively to develop and implement an integrated response plan. Large swarms of locusts were present over wide areas of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia in autumn—that is, between April and May 2010—and established egg beds which have now hatched across these three states. Well-defined areas of operation have been established by the Australian Plague Locust Commission and state agencies to ensure effective coverage of infected areas. Resourcing of the response, including aircraft availability and pesticide supplies, has been addressed with plans established for these agencies to collectively treat up to 2.5 million hectares of infestation. Aerial control by the Australian Plague Locust Commission had treated a total area of not more than 54,000 hectares by 11 November. (Time expired)