The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report 2011 © Plant Health Australia 2012 Disclaimer: This publication is published by Plant Health Australia for information purposes only. Information in the document is drawn from a variety of sources outside This work is copyright. Apart from any use as Plant Health Australia. Although reasonable care was taken in its preparation, Plant Health permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part Australia does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, completeness or currency of the may be reproduced by any process without prior information, or its usefulness in achieving any purpose. permission from Plant Health Australia. Given that there are continuous changes in trade patterns, pest distributions, control Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction measures and agricultural practices, this report can only provide a snapshot in time. and rights should be addressed to: Therefore, all information contained in this report has been collected for the 12 month period from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011, and should be validated and Communications Manager confirmed with the relevant organisations/authorities before being used. A list of Plant Health Australia contact details (including websites) is provided in the Appendices. 1/1 Phipps Close DEAKIN ACT 2600 To the fullest extent permitted by law, Plant Health Australia will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred in or arising by reason of any person relying on the ISSN 1838-8116 information in this publication. Readers should make and rely on their own assessment An electronic version of this report is available for and enquiries to verify the accuracy of the information provided. download from the Plant Health Australia website. Print copies can be ordered by contacting Plant Health Australia. In referencing this document, the preferred citation is: National Plant Biosecurity Status Report (2011). Plant Health Australia, Canberra, ACT. Contents OVERVIEW 7 The importance of plant biosecurity 8 CHAPTER 1 ORGANISATION OF PLANT BIOSECURITY SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA 11 1.1 Policy framework and legislation 12 Biosecurity reform 12 Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity 13 National Plant Biosecurity Strategy 14 Biosecurity legislation 14 1.2 National committees 16 Primary industries committees 16 Plant Health Committee 16 1.3 Australian Government plant health services 18 DAFF Biosecurity 18 Trade and Market Access Division 20 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 20 Other government organisations 20 1.4 State and territory plant biosecurity services 21 1.5 Industry and private sector plant biosecurity services 27 Industry representative bodies 27 Growers and landholders 27 Private consultants and reseller agronomists 27 Professional associations 27 1.6 Australia’s plant production industries 28 Crop production summary 28 1.7 Plant Health Australia 76 Plant Health Australia and Australia’s plant biosecurity system 76 CHAPTER 2 AUSTRALIA’S PLANT PEST STATUS 79 2.1 Australia’s High Priority Pests 81 2.2 Australia’s regionalised pests 88 2.3 Responses to Emergency Plant Pests 91 2.4 Management of weeds in Australia 95 Image courtesy of AUSVEG CHAPTER 3 MAINTAINING AUSTRALIA’S PLANT BIOSECURITY STATUS 101 3.1 Offshore activities 104 International trade 105 Imports 105 Exports 108 3.2 At the border activities 110 Post-entry plant quarantine 110 Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy 110 Information systems 111 3.3 Onshore activities 112 Domestic quarantine 112 Industry biosecurity planning 113 Pre-emptive breeding 114 Surveillance 114 Diagnostics 124 On farm biosecurity 136 Communication and awareness 138 Information technology tools and networks supporting the plant biosecurity system 140 CHAPTER 4 MANAGING PLANT BIOSECURITY EMERGENCIES 143 4.1 The Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed 144 National Management Group 145 Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests 145 Emergency Plant Pest Categorisation Group 145 4.2 PLANTPLAN 148 Contingency planning 148 Training 152 Biosecurity Surveillance Incident Response and Tracing 153 CHAPTER 5 INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 155 5.1 Research and development in association with the Australian Government 156 Australian Government statutory authorities and agencies involved in research and development 158 Cooperative Research Centres 159 Research and Development Corporations 161 5.2 State and territory governments research and development 164 5.3 Universities and private research institutions 164 5.4 Overview of plant biosecurity related research and development in 2011 166 APPENDICES 187 Appendix 1: Organisational and initiative contact details 188 Appendix 2: Glossary 192 Appendix 3: Acronyms and abbreviations 194 INDEX 196 Tables and figures Case studies TABLES Table 1. Plant biosecurity related legislation 15 Chapter 1 Ensuring Tasmania’s biosecurity future 25 Tables 2-37. Industry specific High Priority Pest lists 30 Focus on forestry biosecurity 45 Table 38. Plant Health Australia’s Members 77 Table 39. High Priority Pests of Australia’s plant production industries 82 Chapter 2 Engaging communities during a biosecurity incursion 94 Table 40. Australia’s regionalised pests 89 Management of Branched broomrape 98 Table 41. Emergency responses to EPPs and pests of national significance 92 Chapter 3 Keeping Australia (not) green… 109 Table 42. Pest detections notified under EPPRD arrangements that did not Boosting biosecurity in the nursery and garden industry 113 result in an emergency response 93 New diagnostic facilities 124 Table 43. Australia’s Weeds of National Significance 96 Collaboration to improve diagnostic capability for fruit flies 130 Table 44. Australian Government, and state and territory government National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Network 133 responsibilities in weed management 97 Grains Farm Biosecurity Program 137 Table 45. DAFF Biosecurity’s finalised policy advice, draft regulated import Fight to destroy a weed menace 138 risk analysis reports and draft policy reviews 107 Champions of on farm biosecurity 139 Table 46. Post-entry plant quarantine facilities in Australia 110 Table 47. Industry Biosecurity Plans 113 Chapter 4 Transition to management programs 146 Table 48. Australia’s plant biosecurity surveillance programs 116 Chapter 5 Success for plant biosecurity research 160 Table 49. Australia’s diagnostic services and laboratories 125 Innovation in biosecurity 163 Table 50. National Diagnostic Protocols 134 Table 51. Contingency plans available for priority plant pests in Australia 149 Table 52. Plant biosecurity related research projects 168 FIGURES Figure 1. National governmental consultative committees 17 Figure 2. DAFF Biosecurity regional boundaries 19 Figure 3. Gross value of Australia’s plant production industries 28 Figures 4-67. Industry production data 30 Figure 68. Key components of Australia’s plant biosecurity system 103 Figure 69. DAFF Biosecurity import risk analysis flowchart 106 Figure 70. NAQS plant and animal biosecurity surveillance area 111 Figure 71. NAQS areas of operation in the Torres Strait 111 Figure 72. Surveillance programs by target host 115 Figure 73. Surveillance programs by target pest 115 Figure 74. Approval process of National Diagnostic Protocols 132 Figure 75. Relationships between organisations involved in plant biosecurity research and development 157 Figures 76-80. Research and development project summaries 166 Foreword Plant biosecurity in Australia operates as a partnership between governments and plant The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report couldn’t be compiled without contributions, industries. Through this innovative partnership, responsibilities for maintaining the integrity input and advice from Australia’s key plant biosecurity stakeholders. Plant Health Australia and performance of the plant biosecurity system are shared, as are the benefits of better is grateful for the cooperation it receives every year in putting together this volume. It is an biosecurity outcomes. All Australians benefit from improved productivity of our plant example of the plant biosecurity partnership in action. production industries, high quality produce, increased trade, business profitability and sustainability, and environmental preservation. I am proud to recommend this publication to you. The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report is a vital reference source for anyone interested in Australia’s plant biosecurity system and how it functions to maintain Australia’s plant pest status, which is envied around the world. It provides farmers, domestic producers and retailers with confidence in the security and viability of Australia’s food industries. Educators, those involved in providing support and commercial services to the plant industries, and policy makers across government and industry will also benefit from the comprehensive overview of Australia’s plant biosecurity system. Dr Tony Gregson AM, FTSE Chairman This fourth edition of the National Plant Biosecurity Status Report provides a synopsis of Australia’s plant biosecurity system for the calendar year of 2011. Readers are presented with comprehensive information on the status of Australia’s plant production industries and the elaborate systems that protect them. Issues covered include: • The organisations and processes involved in managing the pest status of Australia’s agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries offshore, onshore and at the border • National biosecurity agreements and reforms to current arrangements • Plant pests of significant