Mapping Australia’s Weed Management System MARCH 2013 RIRDC Publication No. 13/019 Mapping Australia’s Weed Management System by G. Cattanach, A. Harris and J. Horne March 2013 RIRDC Publication No. 13/019 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-006923 © 2013 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-512-7 ISSN 1440-6845 Mapping Australia’s Weed Management System Publication No. 13/019 Project No. PRJ-006923 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details: Name: Mr Rodney Turner Address: Plant Health Australia Level 1, 1 Phipps Close, Deakin ACT 2600 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in March 2013 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 ii Foreword Weeds have a huge impact on the Australian environment and community. They invade our agricultural lands and the natural environment, causing economic, environmental and social damage. Significant resources are expended in Australia each year to prevent incursions, contain outbreaks and manage established weeds by a diverse range of organisations and individuals, from government departments to local communities. It is well recognised that weeds are a significant threat and that multiple stakeholders undertake weed management. However there is no comprehensive nation-wide review of weed management activities. Plant Health Australia (PHA) was commissioned to review and clearly demonstrate the benefits to Australia of the current investment in weed management and provide a basis for sound investment in the future. This report identifies the key stakeholders involved in weed management and outlines their roles. The project assesses current activities in weeds management, and draws brief conclusions on what is working well and where the system could be improved. This information can be used by policy makers, regulators, industry, educators and community leaders to assist in future investment decisions in weed management, and to ensure that the investment is strategic, effective and economically sound. This report concludes that Australia has a robust weed management system, and that it must be maintained if we are to prevent weed problems worsening. While the prevention of incursions and national coordination of weed management have improved, there is still scope for better harmonisation between jurisdictions. Weed management is being funded more strategically, but continued attention on the important role of the community must be secured. Given that prevention of weeds is better (and less expensive) than a cure, weed issues are being viewed more as a biosecurity issue than a natural resource management issue. Other important issues from this project that require further consideration include maintaining Australia’s weeds R&D capacity, including continued use and development of biological controls, how emergency weed issues are dealt with, and continued access to herbicides. This project is part of the National Weeds and Productivity Program, which was funded to 30 June 2012 by the Australian Government with the goal of reducing the impact of invasive weeds on farm and forestry productivity as well as on biodiversity. All RIRDC research investments in this Program are oversighted by the Weeds R&D Advisory Committee in accordance with the National Weeds and Productivity Research Program R&D Plan 2010-2015 that has been approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Solutions to weeds in Australia require a long-term, integrated, multi-stakeholder and multi- disciplinary approach. RIRDC is seeking project applications that involve collaboration between stakeholder groups, and where possible, including external contributions both monetary and in-kind. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications which can be viewed and freely downloaded from our website www.rirdc.gov.au. Information on the Weeds Program is available online at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/research-programs/rural-people-issues/weeds. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii About the Authors Gavan Cattanach works for John Thorp Australia, after an extensive career in the Australian Public Service. He managed the Weeds and Pest Animals area within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry including representing the Department on the Australian Weeds Committee, before retiring in 2008. Dr Adrian Harris joined Plant Health Australia in 2011. He has a wealth of experience in federal and state government departments and industry, both in Australia and overseas. He has worked in areas of plant disease research, biosecurity policy, pesticide regulation and training. At Biosecurity Australia he managed the weeds team, which implemented the Weed Risk Assessment system and reviewed the Permitted Seeds List. James Horne worked in Plant Health Australia from September 2011 to May 2012. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Plant Science, from the University of Queensland in 2010. Acknowledgments The authors of this study would like to acknowledge those organisations and community groups who responded to our questionnaire to provide valuable information, which we hope we have reproduced appropriately. We would particularly like to thank those community organisations who gave of their own time to answer our questions, a reflection of the passion they have for weed management. iv Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... iii About the Authors ................................................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ xv About this study ..................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. Weeds – How important are they? ............................................................................. 3 1.1 What is a weed? .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Economic impacts of weeds ........................................................................................................ 6 1.3 Environmental impacts of weeds ................................................................................................ 7 1.4 Social impacts of weeds .............................................................................................................. 9 1.5 How are weeds spread? ............................................................................................................. 10 1.6 National weed lists .................................................................................................................... 12 Weeds of National Significance ................................................................................................ 12 National Environmental Alert List ............................................................................................ 14 Permitted Seeds List .................................................................................................................