❓ Question regarding the WA government's approach to the polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) outbreak, focusing on eradication vs. management strategies, research, stakeholder engagement, and funding. The answer outlines the national framework guiding the response and ongoing efforts.
AnsweredQoN 2024Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to recent outbreaks of polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB), euwallacea fornicatus, and I ask: (a) what evidence is used to justify the continuation of the eradication
strategy of the PHSB; (b) given the experience
of other western countries in controlling PSHB, and
the difficulties faced locally in containing the spread of the pest in metropolitan Perth, what is the threshold and/or criteria on which the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) would progress
matters from an ‘eradication’ program to a ‘management’ program; (c) in changing to a ‘management’
program, will the management of PHSB include the integrated pest management
principles in its implementation; (d) what research is occurring on PHSB and by whom; (e) given that
responsibility of public trees is vested with the local authorities, what level
of information exchange can be expected in developing the next round of control
measures for PHSB; (f) what level of information exchange can be expected with private tree owners and tree advocacy groups in developing the next round of control measures for PHSB; (g) is DPIRD intending to
seek the assistance and collaboration of other stakeholders outside of its
organisation (such as local governments, universities, community and tree advocacy groups, and the private sector) in developing the necessary research and
Perth-based trails for determining future control measures; (h) is DPIRD able to
receive adequate funding and resources to undertake the level of research and
communications to enable such information becoming
available to support future decision making on this matter; and (i) how many PHSB traps are outside the metropolitan area?
strategy of the PHSB; (b) given the experience
of other western countries in controlling PSHB, and
the difficulties faced locally in containing the spread of the pest in metropolitan Perth, what is the threshold and/or criteria on which the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) would progress
matters from an ‘eradication’ program to a ‘management’ program; (c) in changing to a ‘management’
program, will the management of PHSB include the integrated pest management
principles in its implementation; (d) what research is occurring on PHSB and by whom; (e) given that
responsibility of public trees is vested with the local authorities, what level
of information exchange can be expected in developing the next round of control
measures for PHSB; (f) what level of information exchange can be expected with private tree owners and tree advocacy groups in developing the next round of control measures for PHSB; (g) is DPIRD intending to
seek the assistance and collaboration of other stakeholders outside of its
organisation (such as local governments, universities, community and tree advocacy groups, and the private sector) in developing the necessary research and
Perth-based trails for determining future control measures; (h) is DPIRD able to
receive adequate funding and resources to undertake the level of research and
communications to enable such information becoming
available to support future decision making on this matter; and (i) how many PHSB traps are outside the metropolitan area?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
12 days
(a) The eradication strategy for polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) has been developed and approved nationally by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP). The CCEPP is Australia's key technical body for coordinating responses to emergency plant pest incursions and is responsible for assessing the technical feasibility of eradication and, where eradication is considered feasible, determining the strategy for achieving this. The eradication strategy was based on a set of criteria and underpinning technical factors, including the extent of the infestation, the impact of the pests and international experience.
(b) The CCEPP periodically reviews the technical feasibility of eradication, and the eradication strategy and its effectiveness. Additional reviews also occur at any time during a response where a trigger point in the approved response plan is met. These reviews take into account all available information at the time of review, including international experience. If CCEPP consider a pest is no longer feasible to eradicate a national transition to management strategy may be developed.
(c) Should the response to PSHB in WA transition to management all available tools will be considered, including integrated pest management tools.
(d) DPIRD continues to consult with international PSHB researchers worldwide. Recent research in California and South Africa has assessed new methods of chemical control of PSHB, including injecting insecticide and fungicide into susceptible trees. While these trials showed some efficacy against limiting infestation and retaining plant health in already-infested trees, none of the studies found chemical control methods to be a suitable tool for eradication. DPIRD is conducting trials focused on developing eradication tools applicable to WA conditions and is actively engaging with local stakeholders to identify potential research priorities.
(e and f) All stakeholders are considered when developing eradication strategies and response plans. Discussions with land managers, including local government authorities and private landholders, as well as community groups are critical to delivery and review of the strategy. The PSHB website hosted on agric.wa.gov.au/borer holds key PSHB information available to all stakeholders and DPIRD continues to meet with impacted stakeholders to exchange information.
(g) DPIRD is well engaged with local, national and international scientific expertise, and has established a Scientific Advisory Panel for the purpose of supporting the response and considering research options.
(h) National funding for the PSHB eradication program is determined by the National Management Group under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and is cost-shared by the Australian and all state and territory governments. Current PSHB eradication trials in Perth are funded through this system, noting that trials are focused on eradication techniques.
(i) There are currently 160 PSHB traps located outside of the metropolitan area.
(b) The CCEPP periodically reviews the technical feasibility of eradication, and the eradication strategy and its effectiveness. Additional reviews also occur at any time during a response where a trigger point in the approved response plan is met. These reviews take into account all available information at the time of review, including international experience. If CCEPP consider a pest is no longer feasible to eradicate a national transition to management strategy may be developed.
(c) Should the response to PSHB in WA transition to management all available tools will be considered, including integrated pest management tools.
(d) DPIRD continues to consult with international PSHB researchers worldwide. Recent research in California and South Africa has assessed new methods of chemical control of PSHB, including injecting insecticide and fungicide into susceptible trees. While these trials showed some efficacy against limiting infestation and retaining plant health in already-infested trees, none of the studies found chemical control methods to be a suitable tool for eradication. DPIRD is conducting trials focused on developing eradication tools applicable to WA conditions and is actively engaging with local stakeholders to identify potential research priorities.
(e and f) All stakeholders are considered when developing eradication strategies and response plans. Discussions with land managers, including local government authorities and private landholders, as well as community groups are critical to delivery and review of the strategy. The PSHB website hosted on agric.wa.gov.au/borer holds key PSHB information available to all stakeholders and DPIRD continues to meet with impacted stakeholders to exchange information.
(g) DPIRD is well engaged with local, national and international scientific expertise, and has established a Scientific Advisory Panel for the purpose of supporting the response and considering research options.
(h) National funding for the PSHB eradication program is determined by the National Management Group under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and is cost-shared by the Australian and all state and territory governments. Current PSHB eradication trials in Perth are funded through this system, noting that trials are focused on eradication techniques.
(i) There are currently 160 PSHB traps located outside of the metropolitan area.
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.