Clare Scriven ‘frustrated’ at crippling fallout of tomato brown rugose fruit virus

SA’s primary industries minister has shed new light on how authorities came to the decisions that have crippled the state’s tomato industry.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven says she urged other states to ease restrictions on SA tomatoes in the wake of an infectious virus outbreak that is crippling the industry.

In an interview with The Advertiser, Ms Scriven backed the national decision to eradicate, rather than contain, the disease but conceded she was frustrated with delays since tomato brown rugose fruit virus was first detected in August.

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven says she has urged other states to ease restrictions on SA tomatoes with the infectious virus outbreak that is crippling the industry. Picture Mark Brake

Queensland and WA have since banned the import of SA tomatoes from growers who have not been specifically cleared from the virus, also known as ToBRFV. But producers have been allowed to sell into other states, producing a glut which has forced the price of tomatoes to nosedive and predictions some farmers will be forced from the industry.

“I spoke with the relevant ministers in both of those states very early on when they first put the restrictions on, and I advocated to them to suggest that there was an alternative approach, which... the other states were taking,” Ms Scriven said on Wednesday.

“Our frameworks for biosecurity are very robust, and the things that have been put in place have worked. So yes, I’ve advocated to those two states directly at the ministerial level.

“We would prefer... each state and territory having the same united approach but it ultimately comes down to each state making decisions about what they think they need to do to protect their industry.

“I appreciate that those states have the ability to make those decisions themselves. I think it would have been better for South Australia if they hadn’t taken separate routes, but I respect the fact that that’s within their decision making.”

Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven in city her office says she’s “frustrated” by the delays. Picture Mark Brake

Growers have slammed Ms Scriven and her department’s handling of the crisis, citing a lack of communication and being forced to wait more than a month for test results clearing them of the virus. Some growers also believe authorities should have opted for a containment policy, rather than total eradication.

But Ms Scriven said the virus had the potential to reduce crop yields by up to 75 per cent, and even a 20 per cent impact would cost the industry, worth $230m a year to the SA economy, more than $40m.

“The ramifications of not taking the eradication approach would be huge for the industry, not just this year, but forever more,” she said. “There’s a lot of support in the industry for what the response has been.”

Opposition primary industries spokeswoman Nicola Centofani said it was clear the state was ill-prepared for the virus.

“This virus is endemic in so many countries around the globe, yet we were caught napping, had no local testing capacity and despite a promise made by the Labor Government of a 10-day testing turnaround time, I have tomato growers calling my office who have been waiting three weeks or more without answers.”