❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question on notice addresses the state's strategies for preventing Asian Honey Bee incursions, its role in national management, and the defunding of eradication programs. The response outlines WA's biosecurity measures and involvement in national discussions.
AnsweredQoN 3758Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the changes in the monitoring and eradication of the Asian Honey Bee (apiscerana) in Western Australia in the past year and the role of the National Management Group, and ask -
(1) What strategies does the Minister and the Department have to address the increased likelihood of an incursion of apiscerana in Western Australia?
(2) What position does the Minister, or his representative, take with regards to the funding of control and eradication programs for apiscerana at a national level, or on the National Management Group?
(3) What evidence was considered in the forming of that position?
(4) Who represented Western Australia in the deliberations at a national level, or on the National Management Group?
(5) Which Western Australian community and industry representatives were consulted in the process?
(6) How many of the consulted bodies supported the de-funding of the eradication program?
(7) How many FTE of the Department for Agriculture and Food staff and its contractors are working in Western Australia on the prevention of an incursion, or the eradication of apiscerana?
(1) What strategies does the Minister and the Department have to address the increased likelihood of an incursion of apiscerana in Western Australia?
(2) What position does the Minister, or his representative, take with regards to the funding of control and eradication programs for apiscerana at a national level, or on the National Management Group?
(3) What evidence was considered in the forming of that position?
(4) Who represented Western Australia in the deliberations at a national level, or on the National Management Group?
(5) Which Western Australian community and industry representatives were consulted in the process?
(6) How many of the consulted bodies supported the de-funding of the eradication program?
(7) How many FTE of the Department for Agriculture and Food staff and its contractors are working in Western Australia on the prevention of an incursion, or the eradication of apiscerana?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 May 2011
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
54 days
(1) It should be noted that Asian Honey Bee (AHB) (Apis cerana) is exotic to Western Australia (WA) and the pest has not been detected in this State. WA has no requirement to eradicate AHB. The State surveillance and monitoring program is being maintained and has not changed.
The strategies for AHB are as follows:
· WA supports the formation of a Senior Biosecurity Officers Group at the national level to determine whether any further action is warranted on a national scale to mitigate the potential impact of AHB;
· Maintain State legislation supported by border monitoring to prevent the importation of live bees and control the entry of hive products;
· Maintain a national sentinel hive program that monitors high risk port locations in WA;
· Support the current Bee Industry Protection Plan;
· Coordinate a Bee Industry Consultative Committee with representatives from industry and Government to identify major threats to industry; and
· Utilise and support a bee industry newsletter that is used as a vehicle to communicate bee industry related biosecurity issues.
(2) WA has contributed funds and supported activities as a part of the nationally coordinated eradication response plan at a cost of approximately $3 million.
(3) The advice from the National Management Group of which WA has representation.
(4) The Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) represented WA on AHB NMG and Director Plant Biosecurity represented WA on the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pest (CCEPP).
(5) AHB eradication was a national response and the WA industry representation was through its national organisation, the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC). AHBIC had representatives on the CCEPP and NMG.
(6) Six jurisdictions including the Commonwealth Government.
(7) About 58 DAFWA staff are engaged in forming policy and maintaining border quarantine and operations to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests including bee pests and diseases.
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The strategies for AHB are as follows:
· WA supports the formation of a Senior Biosecurity Officers Group at the national level to determine whether any further action is warranted on a national scale to mitigate the potential impact of AHB;
· Maintain State legislation supported by border monitoring to prevent the importation of live bees and control the entry of hive products;
· Maintain a national sentinel hive program that monitors high risk port locations in WA;
· Support the current Bee Industry Protection Plan;
· Coordinate a Bee Industry Consultative Committee with representatives from industry and Government to identify major threats to industry; and
· Utilise and support a bee industry newsletter that is used as a vehicle to communicate bee industry related biosecurity issues.
(2) WA has contributed funds and supported activities as a part of the nationally coordinated eradication response plan at a cost of approximately $3 million.
(3) The advice from the National Management Group of which WA has representation.
(4) The Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) represented WA on AHB NMG and Director Plant Biosecurity represented WA on the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pest (CCEPP).
(5) AHB eradication was a national response and the WA industry representation was through its national organisation, the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC). AHBIC had representatives on the CCEPP and NMG.
(6) Six jurisdictions including the Commonwealth Government.
(7) About 58 DAFWA staff are engaged in forming policy and maintaining border quarantine and operations to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests including bee pests and diseases.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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