Reporting suspect pests

Any unusual plant pest or disease should be reported immediately to the relevant state or territory agriculture agency through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881). Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.

Reporting an exotic plant pest should only be done via the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, or other formal reporting means promoted by state or territory jurisdictions. Careless use of information, particularly if a pest has not been confirmed, can result in extreme stress for individuals and communities, and possibly damaging and unwarranted trade restrictions.

Macro lens fact sheet

This fact sheet gives some tips on how to take photos of pests or diseases using a macro lens that can be attached to mobile phones and other devices.

If you suspect you’ve found a new pest or disease, please call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline

Calls to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline will connect to an automated system that allows the caller to choose the state or territory that the call relates to. The caller will then be connected to the relevant authority for that jurisdiction where calls will be answered by an experienced person, who will ask some questions to help understand the situation, such as:

  • what was seen (describe the pest or send a photo) and when was it first noticed
  • where it was found and what it was on
  • how many pests are present/how infected is the crop
  • how widely distributed it is.

Every report will be taken seriously, checked out and treated confidentially.

In some states and territories, the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline only operates during business hours. The table below outlines the operating hours in each jurisdiction and an alternative contact if necessary.


Researchers

The fact sheet Discovered something new? is on the importance of reporting new findings from research, and Is your field research a biosecurity risk? is on the importance of the biosecurity risks associated with conducting field
research and demonstrations.

State or territory
Hotline hours
Alternative contact
New South Wales Answered 08:30 – 16:30 Monday to Friday. Please leave a message outside of these hours, which will be followed up the next business day. biosecurity@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Online reporting form

Northern Territory Answered 08:00 – 16:30 Monday to Friday. Please leave a message outside of these hours, which will be followed up the next business day. Quarantine.NT@nt.gov.au
Queensland Answered 08:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday (09:00 – 17:00 Thursday). Calls are answered outside these hours by a third party who will take your message and organise a response from a biosecurity officer as soon as possible, depending on the urgency of the report. Biosecurity Queensland
13 25 23
South Australia Answered 08:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday. Calls are answered outside these hours by a third party who will take your message and organise a response from a biosecurity officer as soon as possible, depending on the urgency of the report. Pest and disease information
08 8207 7820
Online plant pest report form
Tasmania Answered 24 hrs/ 7 days Biosecurity Tasmania
03 6165 3777
Victoria Answered 08:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 – 18:00 weekends and public holidays. Please leave a message with your contact details outside of these hours, which will be followed up the next day. You can make a report with photos (where possible) via this online form or by emailing plant.protection@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Western Australia Answered 08:30 – 16:30 Monday to Friday. Please leave a message outside of these hours, which will be followed up the next business day. Pest and Disease Information Service
08 9368 3080
padis@dpird.wa.gov.au 

Suspect material should not generally be moved or collected without seeking advice from the relevant state or territory department, as incorrect handling of samples could spread the pest or render the samples unsuitable for diagnostic purposes. State or territory agriculture department officers will usually be responsible for sampling and identification of pests.