Latest Articles

For previous years’ media releases, please visit the Media release archive.

Safeguarding our forests

July 26, 2019

On National Tree Day (28 July 2019) Plant Health Australia highlighted the importance of safeguarding our native, plantation and urban forests from overseas pests.

Australian forests are free from many significant pests that impact production and trade overseas. More

Exercise Fastidious findings strengthen preparedness

June 19, 2019

A report published in May 2019 on Exercise Fastidious identifies ways to further strengthen Australia’s preparedness to respond to a detection Xylella fastidiosa.

Australia is currently free of all X. fastidiosa subspecies and known vectors of the disease found overseas, however, if it established in Australia it could cause significant environmental and economic impacts. More

New grains biosecurity officer for NSW

June 3, 2019

After decades of working with broadacre farmers across the country, Bill Gordon is looking forward to the challenges presented in his new role as the Grains Biosecurity Officer for NSW.

Employed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Bill will be working in the Grains Farm Biosecurity Program which is funded by Grain Producers Australia and managed by Plant Health Australia. More

New ‘Pest Reporting and Responses’ course now live

May 17, 2019

PHA’s Biosecurity Online Training (BOLT) system provides free access to e-learning courses related to plant biosecurity. In response to demand for more training options, a new course called Pest Reporting and Responses has been developed.

The course is for growers, farm workers and agronomists and aims to provide them with a better understanding of reporting and responding to plant pests in Australia. More

New biosecurity manual for cherry growers released

May 17, 2019

The second version of the Cherry Growers’ Biosecurity Manual was released this month. It provides an up to date guide for growers and their consultants and advisors to improve biosecurity on farm.

A digital version of the manual can be downloaded here and hard copies were sent to growers with the Autumn edition of Cherry magazine. More

Workshop Sugar Rush

May 17, 2019

Workshop Sugar Rush was held in Townsville on 8 May to investigate how the sugar industry would manage an exotic plant pest incursion.

The workshop was funded by Sugar Research Australia to improve the biosecurity preparedness of the sugar industry. More

Forest biosecurity surveillance stakeholder forum for South Australia

May 17, 2019

On Tuesday 7 May South Australian forest stakeholders met in Adelaide to discuss the development of a National Forest Pest Surveillance Program.

PHA in collaboration with Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) organised the forum to gain an understanding of a range of stakeholder’s perspectives on the proposed program. More

Biosecurity communicators gather in Darwin

May 17, 2019

Biosecurity communicators from around Australia gathered in Darwin in early May where they heard about lessons identified from recent emergency plant pest responses and took the opportunity to visit the citrus canker emergency operations centre. More

Pacific visitors to PHA

May 17, 2019

PHA is pleased to be hosting two Pacific Islander biosecurity specialists for three weeks as part of the Pacific Plant Biosecurity Program.

The capacity building program is a joint initiative of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Crawford Fund. More

Break the pest cycle before sowing

May 7, 2019

With challenging and dry conditions prevailing this year, Grains Biosecurity Officer Jim Moran recommends staying one step ahead of pests by using farm biosecurity practices before and during sowing.

“Simple things can save you money in the long run by reducing the introduction and spread of pests, diseases and weeds on your property,” explained Jim. More