Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment crest

Biosecurity Matters

Biosphere

Welcome to the new look Biosecurity Matters! We hope you’ll enjoy our more succinct stories divided by what you need to know, what we’ve been up to, and how you can get involved. Also, look out for a survey asking for your feedback when we publish the next edition.

What You Need to Know

biosecurity.gov.au
Image: DAWE

A new online source for biosecurity resources

We are excited to introduce biosecurity.gov.au, a new national biosecurity website to support you in finding the biosecurity information you need.

Australia’s biosecurity system is vital for safeguarding our primary industries, environment and communities. Together with state and territory governments, industry and non-government agencies, we have developed this new website to bring together existing biosecurity resources.

Whether you’re an individual or a business, the website links you to everything you need to know about your biosecurity responsibilities.

To find out more, or to share your feedback about the new site, visit biosecurity.gov.au

Khapra beetle with rice grains. They are able to squeeze into the cracks and crevices of containers thanks to their small size.
Khapra beetle with rice grains. They are able to squeeze into the cracks and crevices of containers thanks to their small size. Image: DAWE

Containing the container threat!

Sea containers bring essential goods all over the world, but they can also give a free ride to hitchhiking pests like khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium).

As the number one plant priority pest for grains and number two on our National Priority Plant Pest list, the beetle poses a major biosecurity threat to Australia. It’s a hardy and highly invasive pest that destroys grain quality, making it unfit for human or animal consumption.

To reduce the risk of khapra beetle calling Australia home, we’re implementing a range of urgent actions that will result in changes to the imports of plant products and sea containers.

Most recently, we’ve introduced mandatory offshore treatment requirements for certain sea containers. That includes any container carrying high-risk plant products from a country that has khapra beetle, and ones that contain any other goods if they are to be unpacked in a rural grain-growing area of Australia.

The treatment options are methyl bromide, heat or insecticide spray. Importers must know what is required for their containers. Find out more on requirements for sea containers, and sign up for our Industry Advice Notices to stay up to date on our urgent actions.

Items such as snakeskin shoes count as wildlife specimens.
Items such as snakeskin shoes count as wildlife specimens. Image: DAWE

Wildlife Trade Office – get in touch if you are trading in wildlife!

Many of the world’s animals and plants are threatened by uncontrolled trade. Australia is part of a global community working to ensure endangered species are protected.

Under Australian law you are required to apply for wildlife trade permits to trade internationally in native Australian wildlife, live animals, and wildlife protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Some exemptions apply.

Wildlife includes live animals and plants, but also artefacts, skins, teeth, fashion items, foods, medicines and more. Some items from endangered species, like elephant ivory and rhino horn, are strictly prohibited.

Under Australia’s environmental laws, it is an offence to trade in regulated wildlife without a permit. Each wildlife offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment or a $222,000 fine.

Our Wildlife Trade Office coordinates all wildlife trade permit applications and can help you understand your obligations under Australian laws.

Some wildlife specimens are also biosecurity concerns. Some products are not permitted entry, while other products are only allowed into Australia subject to meeting certain import conditions that mitigate the biosecurity risk. You may also need a biosecurity import permit. Find out what you need to do before importing goods.

If in doubt, contact the Wildlife Trade Office, and remember to declare your wildlife specimens when entering Australia.

What We’ve Been Doing

Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030
Image: DAWE

Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030

In May 2021, the Australian Government launched Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030.

This is a strategic roadmap to ensure our biosecurity system continues to protect our environment, economy and way of life against the challenges of the decade ahead.

With pressures from climate change, major global events, increasing presence of pests and diseases in our region of the globe, and the increasing volume of goods and people moving around the world each year, we need to ensure our biosecurity system can stand against all future threats.

The roadmap outlines 5 priority areas to help us address the biosecurity threats of today and tomorrow: governance, technology, people capability, regulation and funding. It will be used to direct and guide projects, initiatives and investments over the coming decade.

To deliver the priorities outlined in Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030, we will utilise our strong existing relationships and consult broadly to develop a National Biosecurity Strategy and annual action plans.

The roadmap also enables biosecurity to remain a key pillar in delivering our Ag2030 plan, to support the agriculture industry reach $100 billion in farm-gate value by 2030.

Our biosecurity system is an ongoing investment that will protect trillions of dollars of environmental assets, plus our agriculture industry and supply chains that, collectively, employ 1.6 million people. Recent modelling shows we get a $30 return for every dollar we invest in biosecurity over the next 50 years.

We would like to hear your views on Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 and how you would like to be engaged in developing the national biosecurity strategy and action plans. To have your say, read the Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 document and take our survey now.

Khapra beetle larvae trying to hide under the floor of a container.
Khapra beetle larvae trying to hide under the floor of a container. Image: DAWE

What’s in the box?

We’re trialing innovative methods to detect biosecurity threats like the devastating grains pest, khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium).

In collaboration with the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the University of Canberra and Qube Holdings, we are surveying sea containers using world-first eDNA and eRNA analysis techniques to detect beetles. Sea containers are the primary way khapra beetle hitchhikes around the world.

eDNA is environmental DNA ¬– the hairs, cells, urine and other excretions left behind by organisms in the environment. We can test for a certain organism’s DNA in soil, dust or water to determine if the organism is present. We can then go a step further and test for eRNA. If found, it means the organism is not only present but could be alive!

The survey, using a real-time eDNA test for khapra beetle, is being funded under the $14.5 million investment to strengthen biosecurity measures at the border. Our officers are assisting to collect samples from containers arriving in Australia to determine the rate of contamination. This will help inform our risk assessments and future urgent actions.

See how we sampled the containers on our Facebook page.

Rangers undertaking aquatic health biosecurity surveillance field exercise on Sea Country at Yarrabah, Queensland.
Rangers undertaking aquatic health biosecurity surveillance field exercise on Sea Country at Yarrabah, Queensland. Image: DAWE

Getting back to biosecurity basics on Country

In March and April Indigenous Rangers took part in Biosecurity Fundamentals training courses held in Cairns and Darwin.

We had 70 rangers from 34 ranger groups participate in practical, hands-on training and presentations across various disciplines such as animal, plant and aquatic health biosecurity. The training covered a wide variety of essential biosecurity skills and brought rangers up to date on current and emerging pest, disease and weed threats.

Biosecurity Fundamentals allows rangers the opportunity to see how their work contributes to broader biosecurity outcomes.

The activities included flying insect and ant trapping, plant collection techniques, plant monitoring, diagnostic photography and aquatic field training. Rangers also learnt about zoonotic diseases – that is, diseases they could potentially catch from animals whilst in the field.

Biosecurity Fundamentals was also a great forum for community liaison officers, scientists and rangers to catch up with one another, and discuss practical ways to continue to protect Country.

COVID restrictions meant there were limited spaces available, but Biosecurity Fundamentals will return in 2022 and will also be offered in Western Australia.

Keep up to date with the work the rangers do on behalf of the department by subscribing to the Frontline Ranger newsletter.

Biosecurity Officer George Wosomo made the milestone detection.
Biosecurity Officer George Wosomo made the milestone detection. Image: DAWE

App helps our front-line officers detect unwell maritime travellers

Our biosecurity officers in the Torres Strait are using a new app to screen ill passengers of vessels trading and moving between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the northern Torres Strait islands.

The Human Health Digitisation (HHD) app allows officers to quickly assess whether ill travellers have signs or symptoms of a Listed Human Disease and need further attention by medical authorities.

The northern Torres Strait islands are only 3.6km from PNG at their nearest point. With traditional visitors continuing to arrive periodically for humanitarian reasons during current border closures, portable health detection technology for our officers is vital.

George Wosomo is our officer on Saibai Island. George recently had a first for our department when he assessed an unwell traveller using the HHD app. He was then able to contact a delegated Human Biosecurity Officer for advice. Fortunately for everyone, the traveller did not have COVID-19 or any other disease of concern.

This example highlights our department’s commitment to using the latest in portable technology at the front-line to streamline and enhance our vital biosecurity surveillance work. George’s detection was a milestone for biosecurity officers in Torres Strait.

To find out more about our department’s role in human health visit the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website.
 


Get involved

Australian Biosecurity webinar series
Image: DAWE

Register now for the Australian Biosecurity webinar series

We are keen to engage with you about Australia’s biosecurity system to support our industries, environment and communities. For this purpose, we developed the new Australian Biosecurity webinar series.

The webinars will cover a range of biosecurity topics, such as Australia’s priority biosecurity risks and how they are being managed, preparedness and response activities, innovation and collaboration, as well as priorities and challenges for biosecurity.

Speakers will include representatives from our department, industry and state and territory governments. We will also feature international guests with expertise in the field.

For more information on the series, or to register for upcoming webinars visit our webinar page.

Nominations now open.
Image: DAWE

Nominate a biosecurity legend for the Australian Biosecurity Awards

Across the country, many Australians are doing their part to safeguard the nation from pests and diseases.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards recognise the efforts of a wide range of people who contribute to protecting our biosecurity system. The award categories include community, education, government, industry, environmental and farm biosecurity, as well as awards for science and innovation and lifetime achievement.

Nominations are open until Friday 30 July 2021.

If you know a group or individual that deserves to be recognised for their biosecurity contributions, nominate them today at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website.

We’re looking for Australia’s next Biosecurity Officers

Apply now to become a Biosecurity Officer
Image: DAWE

Do you want to work as part of a dedicated team to help keep Australia free of pests and diseases that could harm our agriculture and environment?

We’re looking for people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life to fill a range of roles in our Biosecurity Operations Division.

The roles and duties are diverse, so we’ve made a video that explains the kinds of work our officers undertake. All officers contribute to the biosecurity system that protects our nation’s natural assets, food and farming.

Applications are now open for positions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, MacKay, Weipa, Gladstone, Gold Coast and Townsville. They close at 11:00 PM (AEST) on 2 August 2021.

Visit our website to watch the video, find out more about the positions available, and apply today.

Follow us on social media

Follow our Australian Biosecurity Facebook page and our Twitter feed for more updates from the world of biosecurity.

Twitter   |   Facebook   |   Website
Copyright © 2021 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, All rights reserved.