Parliamentary record : Part I debates (19 August 1981)
Debates for 3rd Assembly 1980 - 1983; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 3rd Assembly 1980 - 1983
1981-08-19
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
English
Debates
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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https://hdl.handle.net/10070/220994
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/697218
DEBATES - Wednesday 19 August 1981 climate of environmental care which have been widespread in chemicals do not occur here. systems in other states have affected. I am sure that we the Territory. and protection, will make sure that the mistakes Australia with the misuse and abuse of agricultural Due to runoff from irrigation areas, some river become polluted and even fish stocks have been will make sure that this problem does not occur in The bill is important because I believe that the gentleman who made the news last week with 22 of his 44-gallon drums full of Northern Territory honey will only be the first of many bee keepers to come to the Territory because of the relatively clean environment so far as agricutural chemicals are concerned. It is essential that we are ready for this influx of bee keepers and this legislation provides for exactly that. The opposition supports the bill. Mr D.W. COLLINS (Alice Springs): Mr Speaker, some people have expressed amusement about the possibility of having insects declared to be stock, bees in particular. However, I say that there is a grand opportunity here because I am sure that some entrepreneur will be able to devise branding irons or ear tags so that stock can be marked in an appropriate manner. As we are aware, it is normal to use horses for rounding up cattle and dogs for rounding up sheep. I can imagine an entrepreneur training that little bird that is commonly called the bee-eater. It is very efficient at rounding up bees. It is a bit rough on them so a bit of training would be necessary. One question that does arise is whether, if we are to call bees 'stock', we will call them 'swarms'of bees, 'herds' or 'flocks'. Just in case people think that I am being a little frivolous, I was very interested to note in amendment schedule 44 for bill number 104, which will be discussed later this week, in relation to the powers of an inspector: 'The inspector can order the owner or person in charge of stock of a specified species or class to apply such identifying marks and devices as are specified by the Chief Inspector under section 4lC'. If an inspector tried to force an owner to mark his bees in some manner, he would have to get very close to inspect them. There might be a sting in the tail for the inspector so the owner might get his own back. Some of my relatives have been involved in bee keeping. At a very early age, I was well aware that there are diseases which can get into the bee hives and wipe out the whole colony. This has nothing to do with insecticides. It is a virus or bacterial disease which can wipe out a colony. Not only is the stock wiped out, there is always the danger, of course, that the equipment honey extractors and the various equipment the bee keepers use - could be infected with it unless it is treated in some manner. In the Territory, we are free of these diseases but it would be so easy to introduce this disease when swarms of bees are brought here. A gentleman stated on the radio the other day that he moved out of a southern area because bee keepers were running out of bees. Certainly, the insecticides are causing a problem there. That is an area where there could easily be second-hand equipment which may be advertised for sale. I know of at least 2 people in my own electorate who keep bees. It would be a cheap way of obtaining some equipment. Of course, the danger is that they could be greatly harmed if they introduce the disease. They would wipe out their own population. The disease could stay here in the Territory and ruin if for other people. I believe we have a real opportunity to establish a honey industry in the Territory, not only honey but pollen as well. In the northern hemisphere bees lose a lot of their hive each winter when they cannot forage for pollen. There could be an export market for pollen. If we keep the Northern Territory a 1294