Question On Notice No. 2379 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 August 2019 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 3033-
View tabled paper
Question
I refer to the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA), and I ask:
(a) what chemical species are tested for in the ORIA channels or drains;
(b) is the department aware of any agricultural chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides that are used in the ORIA that are banned in other countries or jurisdictions;
(c) how often is the ORIA tested for contaminants:
(i) will the Minister supply a map of approximate sampling locations;
(ii) will the Minister table the data from these assays over the past five years; and
(iii) if no to (i) and/or (ii), why not;
(d) is the Ord River regularly tested for contaminants:
(i) how often are these test conducted and when was the last such instance; and
(ii) will the Minister table the data from the last test of Ord River referred to in (i);
(e) has the department investigated whether local fauna in the ORIA are contaminated with chemicals;
(f) if yes to (e), what is the frequency and nature of these investigations;
(g) if yes to (e), will the Minister table the relevant information;
(h) if no to (e), why not; and
(i) if no to (g), why not?
Answered on 17 September 2019
(a) Details provided at Attachment 1.
[See tabled paper no.]
(b) Under Australian law all agricultural and veterinary chemical products sold in Australia must be registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The Authority is appointed by the Commonwealth Government and manages the regulatory services for the supply of safe and effective agricultural and veterinary chemicals in Australia. Questions on chemicals registered for sale and use in Australia should be directed to the Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie.
(c) Four weekly
(i) Yes - Attachment 2
[See tabled paper no.]
(ii) No
(iii) This data is owned by the Ord Irrigation Cooperative
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(e) Yes
(f) Once
(g) Yes - Attachment 3
[See tabled paper no.]
(h) Not applicable
(i) Not applicable