❓ Mr. Hunter questions the Premier regarding the government's response to the polyphagous shot-hole borer infestation, criticising the perceived lack of action and seeking funding commitments. The Premier defends the government's actions, highlighting the transition to a management plan and ongoing quarantine efforts.
AnsweredQoN 672Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Polyphagous shot-hole borer
672. Mr Lachlan Hunter to
the Premier:
I refer to the government
presiding over one of the most significant biosecurity failures in the nation,
with the infestation of the polyphagous shot-hole borer. Pest experts warn they
pose a serious and immediate threat to key horticultural industries across
Western Australia, including our citrus, avocado and nursery stock. The Department
of Primary Industries and Regional Development has confirmed the pest is now
spreading at a rapid rate.
(1) Why was the Minister for Agriculture and Food
completely silent on the latest shot-hole borer disaster escalation last week?
(2) Will the Premier commit to a fully-funded
statewide containment and support package to protect Western Australian growers
before the pest reaches our major food producing regions?
(3) Will the government fund households and
residents to remove infected trees, given the growing community costs of this
outbreak?
672. Mr Lachlan Hunter to
the Premier:
I refer to the government
presiding over one of the most significant biosecurity failures in the nation,
with the infestation of the polyphagous shot-hole borer. Pest experts warn they
pose a serious and immediate threat to key horticultural industries across
Western Australia, including our citrus, avocado and nursery stock. The Department
of Primary Industries and Regional Development has confirmed the pest is now
spreading at a rapid rate.
(1) Why was the Minister for Agriculture and Food
completely silent on the latest shot-hole borer disaster escalation last week?
(2) Will the Premier commit to a fully-funded
statewide containment and support package to protect Western Australian growers
before the pest reaches our major food producing regions?
(3) Will the government fund households and
residents to remove infected trees, given the growing community costs of this
outbreak?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the
question. In June, members will recall that the National Management Group made
the decision, based on the latest scientific data and evidence, that the
national biosecurity response would transition to a management response plan. Last
week, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development released a
media statement to advise that the National Management Group had met and
finalised that plan.
A quarantine area has been in
place in Perth since 2021. Last Friday, a new quarantine area notice came into
effect. The zones within the quarantine area were updated and renamed to align
with the transition to the management plan, management zone and containment
zone. As part of the plan, removal and pruning of infested trees in the
containment zone will be prioritised. However, tree removal and pruning will no
longer be undertaken in the management zone by the national response.
Landholders will be required to remove trees and are responsible for tree
management.
I want to acknowledge the work that
has been done since 2021 to work against this particular biosecurity threat. It
is important to make sure that we can now activate the quarantine and
containment zones to ensure that we minimise the spread of the disease.
question. In June, members will recall that the National Management Group made
the decision, based on the latest scientific data and evidence, that the
national biosecurity response would transition to a management response plan. Last
week, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development released a
media statement to advise that the National Management Group had met and
finalised that plan.
A quarantine area has been in
place in Perth since 2021. Last Friday, a new quarantine area notice came into
effect. The zones within the quarantine area were updated and renamed to align
with the transition to the management plan, management zone and containment
zone. As part of the plan, removal and pruning of infested trees in the
containment zone will be prioritised. However, tree removal and pruning will no
longer be undertaken in the management zone by the national response.
Landholders will be required to remove trees and are responsible for tree
management.
I want to acknowledge the work that
has been done since 2021 to work against this particular biosecurity threat. It
is important to make sure that we can now activate the quarantine and
containment zones to ensure that we minimise the spread of the disease.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.