Edition 1
4 January 2012
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Two new PHA industry Members
Chestnuts Australia and the Australian Rubus Growers Association (ARGA) are the latest two plant industries to become full Members of Plant Health Australia (PHA).
Benefits of PHA Membership include the opportunity to develop industry biosecurity plans to prepare for exotic plant pests, enhanced access to overseas markets and the ability to join the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed partnership.
The PHA partnership is strengthened with each new industry Member. With Chestnuts Australia and ARGA, PHA now represents 32 plant industries in Australia, from cotton, grains and citrus to dried fruits, pistachios and olives.
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Planning pinpoints papaya pests
The Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Papaya Industry released by PHA and Papaya Australia is the first step for the papaya industry in planning for and preparing against potential new pest incursions. The project, funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd, involved a risk assessment of pests that damage papayas resulting in the development of a list of high priority pests for the industry.
The risk assessment included consideration of the likelihood of each pest entering the country, its ability to establish and spread, as well as the economic impact it would have if it did become established in Australian papaya orchards.
In all, ten high priority plant pests were identified including Papaya mealy bug, species of exotic fruit fly, and bacterial infections known as Mushy canker and Bacterial crown rot.
Copies of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Papaya Industry are available on request from PHA. The PHA website has more information on plant biosecurity.
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Review of the Nursery and Garden Industry Biosecurity Plan and EPPRD training
PHA and Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) are currently reviewing the Industry Biosecurity Plan (IBP) for the nursery and garden industry. The IBP aims to enhance the protection of the industry from exotic pests by reviewing key biosecurity threats, current practices and future biosecurity needs. NGIA representatives met in Sydney with Dr Stephen Dibley (Program Manager, Training and Biosecurity Preparedness) and Dr Felicity Andriunas (Project Officer) to discuss the IBP review.
Stephen also delivered EPPRD training to explain key aspects of the EPPRD and what will be required of NGIA in an Emergency Plant Pest Response. As a result NGIA are better prepared to respond to the threat of an exotic pest incursion.
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Asian honey bee Scientific Advisory Group
A Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) has been established as part of the Asian Honey Bee Transition to Management Program (AHB T2M). The SAG is chaired and coordinated by PHA, and includes industry experts and bee scientists who provide a wide range of experience to assist with the AHB T2M program. The SAG has been established to provide technical advice and feedback to the T2M Management Group. Two meetings have been held recently; a face-to-face meeting on 23 November and a teleconference on 14 December. A formal SAG meeting and a talk with staff from Queensland’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation is planned for Cairns on 18 and 19 January 2012.
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EPPRD matters
PHA commenced the formal process of implementing changes to the EPPRD following the Five Year Review by posting relevant documentation to all Parties on Thursday 22 December 2011. The information package contained:
• a description of the proposed variations, as supported at the 16 November EPPRD Parties Meeting and following out-of-session discussions
• a Nomination of Authorised Signatories form
• an Approval Form
• a Reply Paid envelope.
The blue Approval Form must be returned to PHA with the appropriate boxes ticked and signed by the Authorised Signatory. It is requested that the Approval Forms be returned to PHA by 31 January 2012.
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Surveillance for early detection of pests in cereal crops
As part of a project to develop surveillance plans for exotic pests of the grains industry, Dr Sharyn Taylor (Program Manager, Biosecurity Planning & Implementation) and Jo Slattery (National Biosecurity Extension Coordinator) hosted a meeting with researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA
) in Perth on 9 December. The meeting brought together experts on entomology, taxonomists, extension and biosecurity, as well as experts in field surveillance for plant pests. The workshop assessed factors within the surveillance model that explored the likelihood of pests being detected in the field through routine crop monitoring.
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Nominations sought for Inaugural Peter Kenny Medal on biosecurity
Nominations are now open for individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to Queensland's biosecurity efforts in the areas of community engagement, education, creating best practice and outstanding research/science.
The Inaugural Peter Kenny Medal and $5,000 will be awarded to the winner to help further advance their commitment to improving biosecurity awareness and/or practices within Queensland. Emphasis will be placed on protecting the profitability of primary industries, our unique biodiversity and our way of life.
More information and an online nomination form is available from www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_21191.htm. Nominations close on 20 January 2012.
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