Prosser Richard: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeProsser Richard: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 12 May 2016. Volume:713;Page:11052. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.RICHARD PROSSER (NZ First) to the Minister for Primary Industries: What further advice does he intend to provide to New Zealand farmers on the Government’s ongoing response to the invasive pest plant velvetleaf otherwise known as China jute butter print and Indian mallow?Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries): The Ministry for Primary Industries is leading a nationally coordinated approach to contain and reduce the geographical spread of this pest and to move towards elimination where possible. The focus of efforts is now on developing a long-term management plan for velvetleaf. This will involve key stakeholders including local and regional councils as well as farmer groups. The current advice to farmers who have planted fodder beet seed this season is to check their crops and report any sightings to the Ministry for Primary Industries. A comprehensive farm management plan is now available.Richard Prosser: What steps has the Minister taken to mitigate the impact that this velvetleaf incursion is having on New Zealand’s ability to export weed-free seed crops which has already seen a North Island farmer lose a multimillion-dollar export contract?Hon NATHAN GUY: If the member had been listening he would have heard in the primary answer what we are doing in terms of the response in providing reliable information through to farmers. What we have also been doing since we found this issue here in New Zealand is we have got tough new border inspections at the border. We have actually banned four seed lines from coming in from European countries. Import consignments now require sign-off by one of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ two technical officers before they can be released and there is actually wider laboratory testing. We are doing a lot about this issue.Richard Prosser: Is the Minister aware of any link between imported grains fed to poultry and the 21 Waikato properties infested by velvetleaf that have never had suspect fodder beet but that did apply poultry manure sourced from poultry companies using imported grains?Hon NATHAN GUY: The member should be aware that velvetleaf was first known to be present in New Zealand in 1948. In regard to his specific question I am aware of the particular allegations. The Ministry for Primary Industries did a thorough investigation in 2011 and it is highly unlikely that it was the source of the Waikato incursion.Richard Prosser: Will the Minister revise import standards for animal feed grains that allow prohibited weed seeds to be present like the 176000 tonnes imported in 2015 from countries with velvetleaf—an increase of 72 percent on 2014 volumes?Hon NATHAN GUY: The member would be aware that last year there was an extra $27 million in Budget 2015 for biosecurity. As a result of that we have got more people working on the front line and we are reviewing the import health standards. We are doing an awful lot in this space and I find it a little bit hard to take the member at his word because yesterday he was saying that possums are not actually a pest at all and that he thinks the chilled-meat deal to China is not a good one. I am not sure that this member realises the importance of the primary sector to the New Zealand economy.Richard Prosser: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a Waikato Regional Council situation report dated 6 May outlining the current state of velvetleaf incursion.Mr SPEAKER: Where did the member source the document from?Richard Prosser: It is from the Waikato Regional Council. It is an internal document.Mr SPEAKER: Is it off its website?Richard Prosser: No it is an internal document.Mr SPEAKER: I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table the Waikato District Council report. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.