David Gillespie (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australia is incredibly fortunate to have a very high status of freedom from a vast array of exotic pests and diseases. If any of those were to establish themselves here in Australia, it would potentially decimate large sections of our primary industry sector. You only have to look at the Varroa mite and the colony collapse disorder that has affected the bee industry overseas and the screw-worm fly, which exists as close as Papua New Guinea. There was an isolated outbreak in Wagga; fortunately, it was snuffed out. Carnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat found in the USA, and there is a vector insect, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which introduces Pierce's disease, can decimate the wine and grape industry and is afflicting the North American grape industry. Recently, we have had the Asian longhorn beetle, the brown mulberry longhorn beetle and Japanese soya beetles identified in some wood products. There were some press releases about it. You can see what potentially could have happened to apples, pears and stone fruits. Some months ago, a chocolate banded snail outbreak was also identified. So there are all these exotic pests and diseases.

Our overseas colleagues and trading partners say that a lot of this is just a beat-up, but really it is a major threat to our isolated flora and fauna. Minister, in light of these ever-present threats that exotic pests and disease pose to us, how important is it to get the correct government structures and governance in place for our national biosecurity efforts?

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