❓ An opposition MP questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding biosecurity surveillance, particularly concerning European wasps and the European house borer, following a departmental restructure and perceived reduction in services.
AnsweredQoN 3197Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Referring to the Minister’s media release of 18 March 2010 ‘European wasps discovered in metropolitan Perth’, and the work of the Social Insect Research Unit as part of the Entomology Branch in the Department for Agriculture and Food, I ask -
(1) How many FTE in the Department work on biosecurity surveillance?
(2) Please provide the details of each of the positions.
(3) In the past financial year how many requests for assistance from the public were received regarding eradication of the European house borer and the European wasp?
(4) Has the Department recently restructured its biosurveillance functions?
(5) If yes to (4), please provide details.
(6) If yes to (4), has this restructure affect the monitoring and location of social insect pests and the availability of departmental assistance in the eradication of these pests?
(7) If yes to (6), how?
(8) Have any positions been lost?
(9) The media release claims an annual investment of $38 million in biosecurity surveillance, quarantine and border protection to ensure Western Australia is kept pest and disease free. Can the Minister please provide details as to the expenditure on biosecurity surveillance?
(10) What research is being conducted by the Department to ensure biosecurity surveillance standards are at the highest level possible in Western Australia?
(1) How many FTE in the Department work on biosecurity surveillance?
(2) Please provide the details of each of the positions.
(3) In the past financial year how many requests for assistance from the public were received regarding eradication of the European house borer and the European wasp?
(4) Has the Department recently restructured its biosurveillance functions?
(5) If yes to (4), please provide details.
(6) If yes to (4), has this restructure affect the monitoring and location of social insect pests and the availability of departmental assistance in the eradication of these pests?
(7) If yes to (6), how?
(8) Have any positions been lost?
(9) The media release claims an annual investment of $38 million in biosecurity surveillance, quarantine and border protection to ensure Western Australia is kept pest and disease free. Can the Minister please provide details as to the expenditure on biosecurity surveillance?
(10) What research is being conducted by the Department to ensure biosecurity surveillance standards are at the highest level possible in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
88 days
(1) On average about 50 FTEs
(2) 16 FTEs are engaged in surveillance for plant biosecurity, 11 FTEs for livestock biosecurity and 23 FTEs for invasive species including European House Borer surveillance.
(3) There were 944 enquiries for European House Borer and 778 for European wasps. No specific requests for assistance from public were received regarding eradication of infestations of these pests.
(4) Yes
(5) Biosecurity surveillance functions are now mainly industry-focused to facilitate claim and maintain freedom from key pests and diseases.
(6) Yes
(7) Reduced surveillance and eradication activities for social insect pests.
(8) Yes
(9) Approximately $6.5 million across plant and livestock sectors.
(10) The Department is actively engaged in more than 13 research projects on different aspects of surveillance to ensure that high quality internationally accepted biosecurity surveillance systems are in place in Western Australia.
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(2) 16 FTEs are engaged in surveillance for plant biosecurity, 11 FTEs for livestock biosecurity and 23 FTEs for invasive species including European House Borer surveillance.
(3) There were 944 enquiries for European House Borer and 778 for European wasps. No specific requests for assistance from public were received regarding eradication of infestations of these pests.
(4) Yes
(5) Biosecurity surveillance functions are now mainly industry-focused to facilitate claim and maintain freedom from key pests and diseases.
(6) Yes
(7) Reduced surveillance and eradication activities for social insect pests.
(8) Yes
(9) Approximately $6.5 million across plant and livestock sectors.
(10) The Department is actively engaged in more than 13 research projects on different aspects of surveillance to ensure that high quality internationally accepted biosecurity surveillance systems are in place in Western Australia.
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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