Prosser Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Prosser Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 06 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7276. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
RICHARD PROSSER (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister for Primary Industries 
: What is the latest estimate by the Ministry of Primary Industries of the total cost to the kiwifruit industry of the PSA outbreak? 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Associate Minister for Primary Industries) 
 on behalf of the Minister for Primary Industries: The ministry does not have an estimate of the total cost to the kiwifruit industry. However what I can say is that given that around 93 percent of our kiwifruit are exported the ministry does have data on the impacts on export revenue. New Zealand exported $987 million worth in 2009 and $1.043 billion in 2010. In 2011 this dropped to $944 million. In the current export season export revenue is expected to exceed $1 billion. 
Richard Prosser 
: How many jobs are expected to be lost in the industry as a result of the Psa outbreak? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: I do not have that information at hand with me today. 
Richard Prosser 
: Given that he cut the front-line biosecurity budget by more than $2 million and slashed the number of border control staff does he accept responsibility for the regulatory failings that led to the Psa outbreak; if not why not? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: The member will be aware that there was a Sapere Research Group report that was done in relation to the Psa outbreak. The ministry is currently working its way through and implementing those recommendations and they will be concluded by next year. I do not believe that the assertions that the member is making on any funding discrepancies are related to the Psa outbreak. 
Todd McClay 
: What actions has the Government taken in response to the Psa outbreak? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: This Government has been working closely with the industry in its response to Psa since it was confirmed in 2010. Almost immediately the Government established a $25 million response package matched by the industry. We continue to work alongside the industry. Yesterday the Minister announced a new package of support measures to be made available to the North Island kiwifruit growers affected by Psa and this announcement has been well received by most. 
Richard Prosser 
: Is it correct that an independent review commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries found major failings in the biosecurity system; if so what assurances can he now give to the agriculture sector that biosecurity failures that have devastated the kiwifruit industry will not be repeated in other areas? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: What I can confirm is that there has been an in-depth report done that could not conclude where Psa came from and how it arrived here. What I can say is that this report concluded that there should be six recommendations. They have been adopted by the Ministry for Primary Industries. There are 16 specific actions to be worked through in terms of the adoption. Ten of the 16 actions were completed before the end of August this year. 
Todd McClay 
: What response has the Minister seen from the industry regarding the latest Government announcement? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: I have seen a number of very positive responses from the industry including Zespri New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. Kiwifruit Vine Health and Horticulture New Zealand. Horticulture New Zealand noted that “The Government has listened to the concerns of our industry and reacted by providing support and reassurance.”