A revised version of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) came into effect this week to meet the needs of signatories and a contemporary Australian biosecurity system. The new EPPRD offers enhanced operation and clarity across a number of provisions and outcomes.
The EPPRD, also commonly referred to as the ‘plant deed’, is a formal legally binding agreement between Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Australian Government, all state and territory governments and national plant industry bodies.
The EPPRD covers the management and funding of responses to Emergency Plant Pest (EPP) incidents, including the potential for owner reimbursement costs for growers. It also formalises the role of plant industries’ participation in decision making as well as their investment in the costs related to EPP responses.
“The EPPRD is a landmark agreement, laying strong foundational partnerships in plant biosecurity,” said Sarah Corcoran, CEO of PHA.
From an agricultural, environmental and community viewpoint, the plant deed supports nationally consistent and structured responses to emergency plant pests, where it is in Australia’s interest to be free of that plant pest.
“Importantly the plant deed also provides clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, assisting in managing expectations of each other and allowing for those involved to effectively prepare,” said Ms Corcoran.
In a world first, the EPPRD was ratified in 2005, significantly increasing Australia’s capacity to respond to emergency plant pest incursions.
“Before the arrangement came into effect 17 years ago, collaboration between government and industry in responses was not guaranteed,” said Dr Susanna Driessen, General Manager Emergency Response at PHA.
Each response managed under the plant deed has had its own challenges and opportunities. Past responses provide signatories to the deed with opportunities to reflect on changes that may be needed to assist the national plant biosecurity system.
Working collaboratively, PHA, plant industries, and all governments have identified a number of opportunities to enhance the functionality of the plant deed, negotiating to action improvements and embedding practices that have evolved over time.
“Amendments to the revised version of the EPPRD include improved functionality, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and refining understanding of how to apply the agreement,” said Dr Driessen.
Other amendments support improved outcomes during a biosecurity response and include:
Supporting growers directly affected by emergency containment activities that may be implemented immediately following the detection of a suspect emergency plant pest. The EPPRD now allows for the National Management Group (NMG), which is the key decision making body in respect of national responses, to determine the provision of reimbursement for losses, even if a national response does not occur. This is a discretionary decision point and aims to facilitate equity for impacted growers and support early reporting and response actions.
Flexibility to respond to exceptional circumstances in a transparent and collaborative way. In the instance where eradication following implementation of a response plan may no longer be feasible, the EPPRD allowed for a short period of time where national coordination and funding could continue whilst the response ‘transitioned’ from eradication to ongoing management. COVID-19 restrictions highlighted that these timeframes may need to be reconsidered and adaptable, and the signatories to the plant deed supported the option to extend these timeframes when it is agreed that ‘exceptional circumstances’ have arisen.
“The EPPRD will continue to provide a platform for improved preparedness and raising the profile of plant biosecurity, providing for better outcomes for all stakeholders,” said Ms Corcoran.
“Overall the plant deed provides for a cohesive, structured national approach to plant biosecurity responses, to benefit all Australians.”
Webinar 5 of the Environmental Biosecurity Webinar Series 2022 was held as a virtual event on 15 September with more than 180 attendees.
The Plant Health Australia-led project is designed to safeguard Indigenous-led forestry in northern Australia and presented a valuable opportunity to present to a new audience and forge new partnerships to face future risks.
Plant Health Australia’s (PHA’s) General Manager, Partnerships and Innovation, Dr Mila Bristow’s presentation provided an overview of Indigenous-led forestry in northern Australia and how this project is building trusted partnerships and shared understanding to improve plant biosecurity outcomes.
Indigenous communities in northern Australia own and manage around 46 million hectares of forest, including socio-economically important forestry enterprises such the 30,000 hectares of plantation hardwoods on the Tiwi Islands and the native forest sawmills and woodworks of Gumatj, East Arnhem, Northern Territory.
With a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Business Biosecurity grant, PHA is partnering with state and territory governments, Indigenous rangers, and forestry enterprises to understand what is needed to protect northern forests from pests and disease threats, as well as identifying mechanisms to improve biosecurity best practice as business-as-usual for the Indigenous people who own and manage these forestry enterprises.
Alice Hathorn, Convenor, ACT Urban Woodland Rescue, also presented and explored how reintroducing native plant species, returning carbon to the soil, slowing water and reducing disruption in the management of the park, has significantly reduced the presence of ecologically transforming weeds African Love Grass and Chilean Needle Grass.
Amanda Adams, PhD – Director of Research Coordination, Bat Conservation International presented lessons learned from the White Nose Syndrome in the United States of America (USA) to assist in developing management approaches to reduce transmission, spread and impacts of a fungal pathogen to hibernating bats in North America.
Resources, web links and copies of webinar presentations are available on the Environmental Biosecurity Webinar homepage. Follow the link to register for the webinar series.
Facilitated by Plant Health Australia’s (PHA’s) Dr Lucy Tran-Nguyen, National Manager, Diagnostics, the first PestBlitz field triage workshop was held from 26-30 September in Adelaide.
This practical workshop was designed to help attendees build skills in sample collection and processing, with diagnostic experts sharing their experience and training both in the field and in the laboratory.
Entomologists, plant pathologists, molecular biologists, diagnosticians, students and agronomists from around Australia attended the workshop, hailing from local and state government, industry bodies, universities and scientific agencies.
The workshop provided an opportunity for laboratory-based diagnosticians to gain experience and training in the field collecting samples for identification in the lab, whilst gaining an appreciation of the inherent complexities of sampling when developing protocols and providing advice on plant pest surveillance.
Another objective of the workshop was to increase the number of specimens submitted to reference collections from biosecurity diagnostic laboratories and enhance inter-laboratory collaboration for preparing and responding to Emergency Plant Pests (EPP’s).
Attendees expanded multi-disciplinary knowledge outside their specialist skills, and early career diagnosticians had the opportunity to network and build relationships with plant biosecurity experts.
PestBlitz by the numbers:
Five-day workshop
Two full days in the field
Seven industry experts
Five presenters
21 attendees from around Australia
Six sites including nursery, greenhouse, horticulture field crop, tree crop and broadacre
Two days lab work and lectures at the University of Adelaide Waite Campus
Presenters included Dr Tran-Nguyen, Naomi Wynn, Learning and Development Officer at PHA, Peter Gillespie, Collections Curator NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSWDPI) Orange, Dr Monica Kehoe, Molecular Plant Pathologist, Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development (DPIRD) WA, and Barbara Hall, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).
Several diagnostic experts were also on hand throughout the workshop to share their knowledge, including Dr Len Tesoriero, Greg Baker, Cathryn Todd and Dr Kelly Hill from SARDI, and Dr Toni Chapman from NSW DPI.
Keep an eye on PHA’s upcoming events for details on future industry workshops and events.
Plant Health Australia (PHA) joined project partners, the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism (DITT), Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries(QDAF), and the University of the Sunshine Coast, on six field campaigns to understand what needs to be done, learnt and taught to make biosecurity ‘business-as-usual’ in Indigenous-led forestry enterprises in the Northern Territory.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF’s) Business Biosecurity Grant, the project aims to build new partnerships to face future risks to strengthen our plant biosecurity system.
Indigenous communities in northern Australia own and manage around 46 million ha of forest. Some of these forests currently support a small and socio-economically important Indigenous commercial forestry and forest products industries such and the native forest sawmills and woodworks of Gumatj, East Arnhem, Northern Territory.
PHA’s Dr Mila Bristow, General Manager, Partnerships and Innovation, joined the visit in early September to East Arnhem partnered with Gumatj corporation, Dhimurru and Yirralka Rangers for three days of two-way learning. The forest and biosecurity specialists listened and learnt from the Indigenous people about culture, what makes healthy country and why it is important to understand what could make country unhealthy.
Science specialists shared knowledge about known forest pests and pathogens, how to look for them, how to sample them, and how to report pest and disease threats. An important takeout was how to listen and better develop training for first nations people whose first, second and third language is not English.
The project team plans to visit the Tiwi Island’s forest plantations in October as they continue to learn how to safeguard Indigenous forest livelihoods and deliver improved biosecurity outcomes.
Last month we welcomed Gavin Edwards, who joined the Plant Health Australia (PHA) Preparedness and RD&E team as a Project Officer in September 2022.
Gavin’s biosecurity career began in Canberra in an operational role with the former Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Since then, he has worked in various policy and operational roles for Australian, New Zealand and United States Government agencies, and most recently with the Northern Territory Government.
He will assist in the collection and analysis of plant biosecurity surveillance and R&D activities across Australia and the development of farm management materials to promote uptake of biosecurity activities among PHA Members.
This month we welcomed Luke McKee as a Project Officer in the Preparedness and RD&E team.
Luke has a Bachelor of Environmental Science from University of Canberra and brings a wide range of project management experience to PHA that he has developed through remote field work in applied ecology across southern NSW catchments through to biodiversity and biosecurity mapping and producer engagement in the Queanbeyan-Palerang regional council area.
Luke will assist in the review and development of Biosecurity Plans (BPs) for specific plant industries and the development of farm management guides, continuity plans and other material that contribute to the enhanced uptake of biosecurity activities amongst PHA Members.
Huge congratulations to Kathryn Pagler who recently graduated with first class honours in a Bachelor of Applied Science degree at the University of Canberra! As a Bee Biosecurity Project Officer, Kathryn’s thesis was titled ‘The Nature of European Honey Bee Gut Microbes in Australia’.
A quick news scan over the past couple of weeks has shown that biosecurity continues to be a hot topic with increased understanding of the pressures the plant biosecurity system is facing due to the rise in volume of trade, climate change and spread of pests and diseases.
A strong and resilient plant biosecurity system requires improved mechanisms and tools to minimise pest and disease impacts on the agricultural sector and protect our food security. The Biosecurity Amendment (Strengthening Biosecurity) Bill 2022 introduced into Parliament late last month proposes changes to the Biosecurity Act 2015 including:
strengthened pre-border measures
effective data sharing mechanisms
increased civil and criminal penalties
improved administration of the Biosecurity Act
enhanced operation of provisions relating to approved arrangements and compensation.
The proposed Biosecurity Amendment Bill is welcomed as a key step to enhance Australia’s ability to manage risks related to pests and diseases and to ensure the biosecurity system is future-focused and fit-for-purpose.
An updated version of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) was also released last month with administrative amendments made to the Schedules of the EPPRD. Next month we celebrate 17 years of the EPPRD. First ratified on 26 October 2005, the Deed was a culmination of a determined effort to create the world’s most progressive plant health partnership arrangement. Happy birthday Deed!
To ensure Australia has the highest calibre of plant pest diagnostic expertise to identify priority and emerging plant pests, requires addressing capacity gaps and delivering professional development pathways for diagnosticians. The first PestBlitz field triage workshop, designed to build capacity and capability in sample collection and processing, and increase knowledge of the complexities of sampling when developing protocols, was recently held in Adelaide. With attendees from across Australia, this workshop is another great example of our proficiency in bringing stakeholders together to support the plant diagnostic system.
Last month, the Board meeting was held in Mildura, Victoria and included citrus industry field visits as well as a trip to a new medicinal cannabis production facility. A key outcome of BM108 was the approval of the Annual Report. A digital version will be available for download on the PHA website in early November. This Annual Report is the final report against the 2016-21 Strategic Plan and associated key performance indicators. Once again, the PHA team has performed well diligently delivering value to our stakeholders.
A mechanism used to evaluate PHA’s performance in terms of programs, initiatives, communications and engagements as well as the value to our member base, is the Member survey. The Member survey will go live in November and will provide members with an opportunity to highlight their biosecurity challenges, current biosecurity activities and level of preparedness. Keep a look out for the online survey link.
A warm welcome to our two new Project Officers Gavin Edwards and Luke McKee who joined the Preparedness and RD&E teams.
If you haven’t already, get social with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. We use these social platforms extensively to share company news, aspects of the biosecurity system, industry events and spotlight our member industries.
The Plant Health Australia (PHA) Board recently travelled to Mildura, Victoria from 19-21 September for Board Meeting 108. While in Mildura, they took the opportunity to engage with and hear from members on the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture.
Held over two days and hosted at the Citrus Australia office, Board Meeting 108 commenced on the Monday afternoon and completed on the Wednesday morning. Key outcomes included:
Approval of the 2022 Annual Report
Discussion on the Public Hearings in relation to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee’s inquiry into the adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot and mouth disease and varroa mite
Confirmation of the 2022 AGM for 29 November 2022
Approval of June and July financial statements and the resolution that the financial statements up until 30 June 2022 and accompanying notes of the Company are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and comply with Accounting Standards and Corporations Regulations 2001; and
Review of the excellent work PHA is undertaking to embed company values and promote positive workplace culture to ensure a highly skilled and engaged team delivering for our members.
Mildura is well known as one of Australia’s most productive agricultural regions, producing premium products for domestic and international markets. The Board had a very engaging and interesting field day on the Tuesday, meeting with member organisations and other plant industries to discuss a range of topics relating to agriculture and biosecurity.
The first session was held at AUSCitrus where the Board learnt about Asian citrus psyllid preparedness measures, the industry high health nursery stock program, and received an update on Huanglongbing tolerant rootstock activities.
Next on the agenda was a visit to Grandview Orchards to see this season’s orange production and hear first-hand about the impacts that climatic conditions and COVID-19 has had on the industry.
The Board then visited the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Dareton Primary Industries research farm for a tour through the orchard, whilst Research Horticulturist for Citrus, Dr Dave Monks, explained the current experiments in varieties and growing conditions.
The afternoon was spent at Cann Group, where the Board received a guided tour of the facility and discussed the biosecurity needs of the emerging medicinal cannabis industry.
Finally, the Board visited Dried Fruits Australia, where they met with new CEO Thomas Cheung to hear about the biosecurity measures that are undertaken in the industry. The Board also met with the CEO of Citrus Australia and Chair of the Plant Industry Forum, Nathan Hancock, to discuss his insights and experiences into the biosecurity system in Australia.
The Board wishes to thank all members, stakeholders and staff that contributed to this interesting and valuable meeting.
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and acknowledges the important contribution of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. This year the event was held from 13 – 21 August.
Science is at the core of the work we do at PHA and once again this year we explored the role of science in plant biosecurity. Some of the important science-based work we do includes pest management, crop improvement, risk analysis, data management, surveillance, diagnostics and protecting the natural environment. The National Plant Biosecurity RD&E strategy provides a framework to guide and strengthen cross-sector biosecurity RD&E for Australia’s plant industries and PHA chairs the implementation committee to drive action.
The event also presented an opportunity to reflect and share the collective scientific work we do and to shine the spotlight on the important role science plays in plant biosecurity.
PHA’s week-long social media campaign focused on reflecting and sharing the collective scientific work we do with our government and industry partners in the field of plant biosecurity.
Some of the highlights included videos by Sarah Corcoran, CEO of PHA, Dr Greg Chandler, R&D Manager for Biosecurity at Hort Innovation, Chris O’Connor, Fruit Fly Engagement Coordinator at PHA, Shakira Johnson, Project Coordinator for iMapPESTS at AUSVEG, and Bianca Rodrigues Jardim, PBRI Ritman Scholarship recipient and PhD student at La Trobe University.
Sarah Corcoran, CEO of Plant Health Australia
Chris O’Connor, PHA’s Fruit Fly Engagement Coordinator
Dr Greg Chandler, Hort Innovation’s R&D Manager for Biosecurity
Shakira Johnson, Project Coordinator for iMapPESTS at AUSVEG
Bianca Rodrigues Jardim, PBRI Ritman Scholarship recipient and PhD student at La Trobe University
New online training packages will support good jobs in agriculture by helping more people recognise exotic pests and diseases.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said Biosecurity Queensland, Plant Health Australia, and the NSW Government had developed two new online training packages, Hitchhiker Pests, and Nursery Pests and Diseases.
“Increasing global trade and the corresponding movement of pests and diseases means Australians need to be ready to tackle evolving biosecurity risks,” Mr Furner said.
“Hitchhiker pests, as they are known, are pests and weeds that can hitch a ride to Australia in vessels, shipping containers and break-bulk cargo,” Mr Furner said.
“Recent detections of hitchhiker pests such as Khapra beetle in imported goods highlight the importance of recognising incoming threats.
“These pests have the potential for significant impacts including on our environment and way of life.
“The new Hitchhiker Pests online course is aimed at businesses that deal with goods and cargo at critical points along the supply chain, including warehouses, distribution centres, and large retail chains.
“The Nursery Pests and Diseases course is designed for staff at local councils and retail nurseries, landscapers and horticulturalists. The course provides training in pest identification and on the actions to take if staff see a suspected exotic pest or disease on plants.”
Mr Furner said the Palaszczuk Government was excited to have major retailers looking to integrate the training into their staff training to build their core biosecurity awareness.
“We are seeking more companies who are willing to be biosecurity champions and build this awareness within their business to protect Queensland from biosecurity threats,” he said.
“Each course takes about 30 minutes to complete and participants will receive a certificate of completion. Employers can recognise these courses as professional development.”
Plant Health Australia (PHA) Chief Executive Officer Sarah Corcoran said collaboration and partnerships were key elements of a strong, integrated Australian biosecurity system.
“By forming new partnerships and extending our biosecurity training to new areas of the supply chain, we are boosting our collective ability to detect and report suspected pests and diseases,” Ms Corcoran said.
“These new courses will be valuable additions to PHA’s library of free online training courses to enhance plant health knowledge and raise biosecurity awareness.
“Equipping key industries with practical biosecurity training and practices that they can incorporate into their day-to-day tasks not only adds an additional layer to Australia’s biosecurity network but also demonstrates that you don’t need to be an expert to detect and report something unusual.”
Mr Furner said Australia had strong measures to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of pests and diseases.
“However, for the system to be as robust as possible, it needs everyone at all points in the chain to be vigilant and report anything unusual,” Mr Furner said.
“Training staff to be biosecurity aware and making sure everyone knows the reporting process adds an additional weapon to our arsenal.
“I encourage employers to contact Biosecurity Queensland for more information on how to integrate these free courses into their corporate training packages.”
WA has enjoyed a fantastic season from January to June 2022, with many commercial and recreational beekeepers gleefully complaining there has been ‘too much honey’. Winter came as a welcome relief to many apiarists who were able to catch up on offseason jobs.
The first half of 2022 has been a busy year for the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Western Australia apiculture team. Senior Apicultural Officer James Sheehan and Bee Biosecurity Officer Jessica Bikaun have been active by delivering training, developing biosecurity resources, inspecting apiaries, conducting port surveillance and overseeing honey bee exports to Canada and Asia.
Inaugural Beekeeper Emergency Response training
Exotic bee pests have been on the minds of many WA beekeepers after a recent incursion of Red dwarf honey bees (Apis florea) that were carrying a Euvarroa sinhai mite. Fortunately, a rapid response from DPRID saw the colony quickly destroyed and extensive surveillance carried out. However, this incursion reaffirmed the beekeeping industry’s need to build capacity for surveillance and emergency preparedness. After all, it is not a matter of if, but when Varroa will arrive.
In the event of a varroa mite incursion in WA, every beekeeper, regardless of whether they manage one or 100 hives, will have an important role to play. For some this will mean increased surveillance activities using the sugar shake, drone uncapping, or alcohol wash techniques. However, to effectively deliver a government response, we will need beekeepers skilled in biosecurity emergency protocols.
To address this critical need, DPIRD coordinated WA’s inaugural Beekeeper Emergency Response Training (BERT) in early May. Delivered by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries officers, Tocal College trainers Mark Page and Rod Bourke, a group of WA beekeepers were trained in the nationally accredited competency ‘Work effectively in a biosecurity response’. This exercise was an excellent example of industry funds at work, with the training largely funded and supported by the Agricultural Produce Commission (APC) Beekeepers Producers’ Committee.
The BERT course focused primarily on exotic mites such as Varroa, with beekeepers learning to use acaracides and sticky mats for surveillance and how to perform decontamination procedures when working at infected apiaries. However, BERT-competent beekeepers may also be called upon in WA during other bee pest incursions, such as European foulbrood and Small hive beetle.
To boost bee emergency preparedness, Bert will continue to delivered in WA.
To express interest and join a waitlist for future training, WA beekeepers can email PBhoney@dpird.wa.gov.au. Similar training is available in other states and territories – so if you are interested in playing an active role during a bee biosecurity emergency, chat with your local Bee Biosecurity Officer about training opportunities.
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