Democrats Hopping Mad About Locust Control Funding



Ian Gilfillan Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council	News Release	2000 News Releases index
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Australian Democrats Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Ian Gilfillan says he is flabbergasted at news that the Federal Liberal Government has withdrawn all funding for research into the biological control of locusts and demands that this be instantly reversed.

"Plagues of Locusts have destroyed hundreds of hectares of crops across the State and only last week began attacking vineyards in the Clare Valley."

"The CSIRO and the Australian Plague Locust Commission have been successfully trialling Metarhizium, a native fungus, which is just as effective as chemical pesticides but is environmentally benign."

Mr Gilfillan says, "The Government’s decision to cease funding this internationally acclaimed research is ecologically irresponsible."

"The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization says Australia’s success in locust control could have implications for plague hit countries around the world."

Mr Gilfillan says, "Again it seems that the global community recognises the scientific achievements that our own Government cannot."

Mr Gilfillan says, "Approximately 6000 hectares in South Australia’s Northern Flinders Ranges were sprayed with the Metarhizium in March, and interstate trials over the past few years have had a 90% success rate."

Mr Gilfillan praised Primary Industries and Resources South Australia for their intensive chemical spraying campaign which prevented the plague from causing further damage.

However Mr Gilfillan says "Chemicals like Fenitrothion (currently used in South Australia) are indiscriminate and wipe out all invertebrates in the area, not just the Locusts."

"The current plague is under control, however the APLC warns that a new plague may surface in South Australia in late Summer to early Autumn."

Mr Gilfillan urges the Olsen Government to act now, and lobby their Federal colleagues to reinstate funding for the biological control of Locusts as a matter of urgency, or, fund the program themselves.