Fireweed Infestation

Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE (Bega) [4.37 p.m.]: Noting the comments of the Minister at the table, the Minister for Juvenile Justice, Minister for Western Sydney, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Citizenship, I hope she will likewise recognise my remarks by conveying them to the Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Energy, Minister for Mineral Resources, and Minister for State Development. I draw to the attention of the House a very serious matter affecting farming communities on the far South Coast, other farming communities along coastal New South Wales, and farming communities in other areas that extend west to the Great Dividing Range—to the spread of a noxious plant, fireweed.

Last week the National Fireweed Conference at the Bega RSL was attended by hundreds of delegates from not only the Bega district but also from Eurobodalla, Cooma-Monaro, Bombala, Shoalhaven, Coffs Harbour and Wingecarribee shires, representatives from NSW Farmers, the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee, the Rural Financial Counselling Service, the Far South Coast Dairy Development, the Southern River Catchment Management Authority, the University of Adelaide and the University of New England, Landcare, the CSIRO, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and Herbarium, and the Rural Lands Protection Boards.

Hundreds of delegates participated in the two-day forum. They were told at the opening of the conference that fireweed has become more of a financial burden for many farmers than the drought. This is a very serious issue. The Minister should assess the extent of the problem and examine the ramifications very closely. Farmers can lose upwards of 60 per cent of their land to this noxious weed, which cripples production. Farmers can also be crippled financially by attempting to manage the weed through chemical control.

Everyone at the conference was keen to see a biological agent developed to combat this noxious weed, in line with international practice. For the past 12 months the Minister has been fully aware of the work undertaken by Reg Kidd and the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee, which has prepared a report for the Minister. He has had that report since March, and he must respond urgently to its recommendations. The farming community is crying out for a ministerial response. I believe bureaucrats who do not appreciate the extent of the problem have stonewalled the New South Wales Government. I hope that the Minister will address this problem, regardless of bureaucratic advice.

Fireweed is a major problem not only in my electorate but also throughout coastal New South Wales, particularly in the north and south. It is crippling farms and farmers. Mr Noel Watson and the Bega Valley Fireweed Association have done much work at a community level. The association was established to bring the perils of fireweed to the Government's attention. The Federal Government has responded with a $300,000 grant to the association to commence preliminary work in preparation for what it hopes will become an extensive study of biological control. I urge the Commonwealth to undertake similar work through the CSIRO. This much-needed research project could cost in the order of $5 million or $6 million—

Mr Peter Draper: A small investment.

Mr ANDREW CONSTANCE: However, as the member for Tamworth says, that is a miniscule amount when considered in the context of the Government's total revenue and expenditure. Such a figure is nothing if it resolves a problem that is costing the farming community and this State millions of dollars. Noxious weeds cost New South Wales in the order of $600 million. The State Government provides only $8.1 million to local control authorities to combat noxious weeds. That is peanuts. I call on the Minister to respond to the recommendations of the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee and start investing in research to develop a biological agent that will combat this noxious weed that is causing enormous damage to farming communities throughout New South Wales.