Improvement in biosecurity measures through proposed strategy
Friday 15 August
South Australia’s preparedness and ability to deal with plant, animal and aquatic pests and diseases will be enhanced through a new draft strategy released today for public consultation.
The draft strategy South Australian Biosecurity Strategy 2008-2013 aims to ensure a comprehensive, co-ordinated and collaborative approach for all biosecurity issues in South Australia. It is centred around four goals: preparedness, prevention, incursion response and ongoing management.
This ensures that exotic pest and disease threats in South Australia are managed effectively through high level collaboration by governments, industries and communities.
South Australia has a long involvement in biosecurity – the protection of the economy, environment and public health from negative impacts associated with pests and diseases.
With increasing national and international movement of people and goods, and changes in our natural resources due to climate change, biosecurity remains an important issue for South Australia’s well-being and future prosperity.
Pests and diseases can cause severe damage to soils, native plants and animals and cost primary production billions of dollars through control costs and yield losses. They can compete with native species, damage buildings or restrict access to parklands and waterways. The cost of pests and diseases to Australian agriculture is at least $8 billion per year.
Greater co-ordination and sharing of information, systems, planning, training and communications across jurisdictions and boundaries will bring increased efficiency and effectiveness in biosecurity in South Australia.
SA has more than a thousand established pests and diseases which impact on primary industries, natural environments and people’s well-being, such as rabbits, African boxthorn, carp, Johne’s disease, European wasp, and lupin anthracnose. Yet there continue to be new threats. The CSIRO estimates that Australia gains 20 new pests or diseases each year.
There are many more potential pests and diseases that could become established.
To fight against this, current eradication programs within SA include branched broomrape, Caulerpa taxifolia and fruit fly. Interstate eradications supported by South Australia included equine influenza, red imported fire ants, citrus canker and European House borer.
The draft strategy and a summary brochure is available at www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecuritystrategy or by telephoning (08) 8226 7980 or emailing hanny.john@saugov.sa.gov.au.
Submissions commenting on the report should be submitted by 5 pm on Friday 26 September 2008.
Media contacts:
Don Plowman, Executive Director PIRSA Agriculture, Food and Wine, ph 8226 0310
Bill Davies, Director, DWLBC, Land and Biodiversity Services, ph 8303 9750
