❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding grain biosecurity, including organisms added to the WA list, sniffer dog deployment, GrainGuard status, and container inspection concerns. The Minister provided detailed responses, including a table of issues raised and their resolution status.
AnsweredQoN 1090Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
AGRICULTURE —
GRAIN — BIOSECURITY
1090. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the grains biosecurity
advisory committee and biosecurity risks to the grain industry in WA.
(1) How many
organisms that would negatively impact the WA grain industry were added to the Western
Australian organism list in 2019–20 and 2020–21 to date?
(2) How many
sniffer dogs are currently funded through the Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development and where are they deployed?
(3) What is the current status of
the GrainGuard biosecurity group?
(4) Have any
issues or concerns with container inspection and/or security been raised
through GBAC or the GrainGuard group in 2019–20 and 2020–21 to
date?
(5) If yes to
(4), please table details of each issue or concern, the date it was raised and
how and when it was resolved, if applicable.
GRAIN — BIOSECURITY
1090. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the grains biosecurity
advisory committee and biosecurity risks to the grain industry in WA.
(1) How many
organisms that would negatively impact the WA grain industry were added to the Western
Australian organism list in 2019–20 and 2020–21 to date?
(2) How many
sniffer dogs are currently funded through the Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development and where are they deployed?
(3) What is the current status of
the GrainGuard biosecurity group?
(4) Have any
issues or concerns with container inspection and/or security been raised
through GBAC or the GrainGuard group in 2019–20 and 2020–21 to
date?
(5) If yes to
(4), please table details of each issue or concern, the date it was raised and
how and when it was resolved, if applicable.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1) In 2019–20, there were
nil. To date in 2020–21, there have been six.
(2) Four dogs
are funded through DPIRD. Two are deployed at the airport and two are deployed
to freight yards and Australia Post facilities.
�(3) GrainGuard
was replaced with the grains biosecurity advisory committee in 2019. The
membership of GBAC includes that of the previous GrainGuard, as well as broader
representation from the grains supply chain to ensure that all areas of
biosecurity risk are captured. GBAC membership includes representatives from the following organisations. From government,
it includes the WA chief plant biosecurity officer, and secretariat and policy support. From industry, it
includes representatives from WAFarmers, Pastoralists and Graziers
Association, WA Grains Group, Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd, Grains Industry
Association of Western Australia, GrainGrowers Ltd, Grain Producers Australia,
and Bunge Australia. The industry management committee comprises the grains,
seeds and hay industry funding scheme committee. Under ''Other'',
it has a Plant Health Australia WA biosecurity officer.
(4) Yes.
(5) The answer is in tabular form.
I seek leave to have the response incorporated into Hansard .
Leave granted.
The following material was
incorporated —
Issue raised
Date raised
Response from DPIRD
Status
Khapra beetle and measures in place for protecting WA
from an incursion from infested containers.
25 August 2020
DPIRD is working closely with the Commonwealth on the
risk of khapra beetle introduction.
Additional surveillance trapping for high risk areas
both rural and metropolitan areas are to be completed within the next six
months. Targeted communication plan developed.
GBAC briefed.
In
Progress
Concern with significant number of sea containers
heading up-country. Who is responsible for biosecurity and cleanliness
(Federal or State?)
5 August 2020
GBAC advised of responsibilities and process for
managing biosecurity risk of containers by state and Commonwealth.
Completed.
(1) In 2019–20, there were
nil. To date in 2020–21, there have been six.
(2) Four dogs
are funded through DPIRD. Two are deployed at the airport and two are deployed
to freight yards and Australia Post facilities.
�(3) GrainGuard
was replaced with the grains biosecurity advisory committee in 2019. The
membership of GBAC includes that of the previous GrainGuard, as well as broader
representation from the grains supply chain to ensure that all areas of
biosecurity risk are captured. GBAC membership includes representatives from the following organisations. From government,
it includes the WA chief plant biosecurity officer, and secretariat and policy support. From industry, it
includes representatives from WAFarmers, Pastoralists and Graziers
Association, WA Grains Group, Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd, Grains Industry
Association of Western Australia, GrainGrowers Ltd, Grain Producers Australia,
and Bunge Australia. The industry management committee comprises the grains,
seeds and hay industry funding scheme committee. Under ''Other'',
it has a Plant Health Australia WA biosecurity officer.
(4) Yes.
(5) The answer is in tabular form.
I seek leave to have the response incorporated into Hansard .
Leave granted.
The following material was
incorporated —
Issue raised
Date raised
Response from DPIRD
Status
Khapra beetle and measures in place for protecting WA
from an incursion from infested containers.
25 August 2020
DPIRD is working closely with the Commonwealth on the
risk of khapra beetle introduction.
Additional surveillance trapping for high risk areas
both rural and metropolitan areas are to be completed within the next six
months. Targeted communication plan developed.
GBAC briefed.
In
Progress
Concern with significant number of sea containers
heading up-country. Who is responsible for biosecurity and cleanliness
(Federal or State?)
5 August 2020
GBAC advised of responsibilities and process for
managing biosecurity risk of containers by state and Commonwealth.
Completed.
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