Mr Campbell asked the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, upon notice, on 27 May 1997:

(1) When was the occurrence of fire blight discovered in Victoria.

(2) Where was it discovered.

(3) What was the host plant.

(4) Who discovered the outbreak and what drew his or her attention to it.

(5) How large is the area of the outbreak.

(6) Is the disease transmitted by spores; if not, how.

(7) Is the fire blight in Melbourne the same as the strain that virtually wiped out pear production in New Zealand.

Mr Anderson —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) On 2 May 1997, AQIS was informed by the Chief Plants Officer of the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture that he had diagnostic evidence that the bacterium (Erwinia amylovora) which can cause the disease fire blight was present in Victorian samples taken and analysed in New Zealand by a New Zealand plant pathologist.

Subsequently, on 16 May 1997 AQIS was similarly notified by the same Chief Plants Officer of diagnostic evidence that the fire blight bacterium was present in South Australia.

(2) Samples which tested positive for fire blight in New Zealand tests and some Australian tests were originally taken from host plants in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

(3) Fire blight in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne was detected on Cotoneaster plants. In the Adelaide Botanic Gardens it was found on Cotoneaster plants and a Pyracantha plant.

(4) Dr Chris Hale saw symptoms he recognised as consistent with a low level infection on highly susceptible Cotoneaster plants (later confirmed in New Zealand diagnostic tests) in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne. Dr Hale is a plant pathologist with the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand and a fire blight expert very familiar with fire blight symptoms.

In the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Mr Richard Ivess who is the Chief Plants Officer for the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and very familiar with fire blight, saw similar symptoms on two Cotoneaster plants and one Pyracantha plant.

(5) Following extensive field surveying some suspect samples from a number of areas have been sent for laboratory testing. However until tests are completed it is not possible to determine the area of the outbreak.

No suspect symptoms have been reported from Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland or the Australian Capital Territory.

(6) Fire blight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora and is distributed short distances by contact and rain splash. Long range dispersal occurs by such mechanisms as the movement of bees, birds or pruning tools or other objects which have come into contact with infected material as well as transport of infected plant material.

(7) The origin of the fire blight bacterium found in Australia has not been established. The results of current diagnostic testing being carried out in Australia have not been consistent with results being carried out in New Zealand and have not been typical of virulent strains of the fire blight bacterium. However, testing is continuing to further define the Erwinia amylovora bacterium found in Australia.