A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the 2023 biosecurity blitz, seeking data on reports received, actions taken, land treated, and reports related to species reclassified in 2017. The Minister provides specific figures and clarifications.

AnsweredQoN 420Legislative Council
Asked
8 May 2024
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

AGRICULTURE AND FOOD —
BIOSECURITY
420. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the 2023 biosecurity
blitz.
(1) How many reports of biosecurity concerns were
received by the department during the 2023 biosecurity blitz?
(2) How many actions were taken as
a result of those reports?
(3) As a direct result of those
reports, what area of land was treated for invasive species?
(4) How many of
those reports related to invasive species whose classification the government
changed to a ''permitted organism'' as identified in the Government
Gazette of 17 November 2017?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The biosecurity blitz ran from
16 October to 16 November 2023, and 1 013 reports were received.
(2) All reports
received, including those that are not of biosecurity concern, provide valuable
data to support Western Australia's pest and disease status for trade
purposes. Twelve reports identified a potential biosecurity concern and were actioned by the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development.
(3) The
biosecurity blitz is focused on pests and diseases of plants rather than
invasive species, which include priority weeds, vertebrate pests, some
invertebrates such as invasive ants, and aquatic pests. To date, no reports of
priority invasive species have been identified as a result of the biosecurity
blitz.
(4) None.

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