Hon. John Fischer raises concerns about Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus entering WA from eastern states. Hon. Kim Chance outlines measures in place, including restrictions on specific potential carriers like maize seed.

AnsweredQoN 972Legislative Council
Asked
10 June 2003
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

A recent article in the The Australian Financial Review dated 29 May 2003, indicated that Australia had lost the battle to stop the spread of wheat streak mosaic virus. (1) As there are no known positive tests in Western Australia, what measures are in place to ensure this imported virus cannot enter Western Australia? (2) If any, do they include restrictions on importing eastern States grain into our State? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
(1) As there are no known positive tests in Western Australia, what measures are in place to ensure this imported virus cannot enter Western Australia? (2) If any, do they include restrictions on importing eastern States grain into our State? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
(2) If any, do they include restrictions on importing eastern States grain into our State? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
(1) To reduce the risk of the disease entering Western Australia, following its discovery in other States, all known potential carriers of the disease were restricted entry into Western Australia. Following assessment of a range of evidence that the majority of hosts appear to pose minimal risk of transmitting the disease via seed, import restrictions were amended. Import of green hosts that could serve as a pathway for the introduction of the virus and mite vector continue to be restricted. Maize seed for planting, which is known to transmit the disease at a very low level, is restricted. Steps have been initiated to make this disease a notifiable disease under the Plant Diseases Act 1914. (2) Only seed of maize is restricted.
(2) Only seed of maize is restricted.

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