Page 1064 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 March 2019
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(5) One of the main herbicides used is metsulfuron methyl. According to the products Safety Data Sheet, metsulfuron methyl, there have been no accounts of poisoning from this herbicide and there are no significant risk factors associated with this herbicide. Other herbicides used for blackberry control include: triclopyr, picloram, aminopyralid and glyphosate. According to the product Safety Data Sheets for these herbicides an individual would need to ingest a large quantity of the concentrated herbicide to suffer a toxic effect. It is important to bear in mind that highly diluted forms of these herbicides are used when spraying blackberry.
(6) According to the official Safety Data Sheets:
• Triclopyr, picloram, and aminopyralid in a combined formulation is slightly toxic to birds if they ingest a significant amount of concentrated herbicide.
• Metsulfuron methyl has a very low toxicity to animals and is broken down quickly and eliminated from the body.
• Glyphosate is not harmful to birds.
(7) Whilst untreated blackberries are safe to eat, as blackberries are actively controlled in many areas of the ACT and signs can be removed or stolen, members of the public should be cautious when foraging for blackberries.
The following advice is provided to people enquiring about eating blackberries in the ACT:
a. Do not eat blackberries in areas that have signs placed warning that spraying or weed control is taking place.
b. Do not eat blackberries from bushes that look sick because there is also a rust fungus biocontrol that causes some varieties of blackberry to lose vigour. The fruit from these may be low quality.
c. If you are interested in viewing maps relating to blackberry spraying in the ACT then visit the Collector for ArcGIS smart map links on the EPSDD web site: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/plants-and-animals/Biosecurity/invasive-plants
National Multicultural Festival—stalls
(Question No 2154)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, upon notice, on 15 February 2019:
(1) Did organisers say they would assess their policy on information stalls in response to multiple complaints at the National Multicultural Festival in relation to an anti-abortion stall with displays that caused controversy throughout the community; if so, has the policy information on stalls changed since last year.
(2) Is the ACT Right to Life Association stall, going to be present in this year’s National Multicultural Festival.
Mr Steel: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
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