Source: Stock Journal Author: 05/19/2009
Subject Concerned: Government Airport
A fresh approach to protect South Australia from the scourge of fruit fly is being undertaken by Adelaide Airport the State Government.
Signage is now on display in the airport's air-bridges warning travellers arriving in Adelaide to dispose of any fresh fruit and vegetables they are carrying or risk being penalised.
Agriculture Minister Paul Caica says the bio-security initiative is an Australian first.
"It's all about protecting our AU$1.5 billion fresh fruit produce sector and the livelihood of thousands of South Australians," he said.
The brightly designed signs are an important way of educating people in the lead-up to SA's tougher new penalties coming into effect on July 1.
The State's new Plant Health Act will increase penalties and introduce on the spot fines for people found illegally trafficking fruit into SA and into the Riverland. The new measures will also require all importers of plant and plant-related material into SA to be registered.
At Adelaide Airport, all domestic and international passengers, flight crews and airport staff will pass our new signs between the terminal and aircraft.
The posters will be the first thing people see on arrival, and will reinforce the audio messages they hear in flight, about not bringing fresh produce into SA.
That's about 7 million people each year at the airport getting the message to 'bin' any fresh produce they are carrying when they arrive in Adelaide - even if it's just an apple they intended to eat during the flight.
Quarantine bins located on the ground floor of the airport have been clearly labelled, which ask incoming travellers to drop any fruit, vegetables or grapevine material they may be carrying into the bins, rather than risk a fine.