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EDITION 1 | JANUARY 2024
Message from the CEO
Welcome to the first 2024 edition of Tendrils.
I’m looking forward to another productive year packed with projects, collaborations and partnerships (existing and new) with events designed to ensure ongoing engagement. Before looking ahead to what 2024 has in store for us, it would be remiss of me not to take the time to reflect on a few highlights from 2023.
Board Meeting 113 communique
At the end of November 2023, PHA hosted Member meetings over two days in Canberra.
Member meeting: AOP webinar
Save the date for the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) webinar that will take place from 2:00-3:30pm AEDT on Thursday 28 March 2023.
First planning workshop to deliver $10M veggie project
The PHA team attended the first planning workshop to support delivery of the $10 million Vegetable Industry Biosecurity and Business Continuity Strategy, in Melbourne in December.
A-peeling opportunity: ILO Training in Orange
PHA and NSW DPI will be hosting an Industry Liaison Officer (ILO) training workshop in Orange on Wednesday 21 February 2024. The face-to-face workshop will equip future ILOs with the skills to work in a control centre during a plant biosecurity incident.
ASW & ADW 2024 venue and dates confirmed
The Annual Diagnostics Workshop (ADW) and the Annual Surveillance Workshop (ASW) 2024 will take place at the Twin Towns Conference Centre in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, from 19 – 20 March and 20 – 21 March respectively.
ForestWatch Australia program summary 2022-23 released
The ForestWatch Australia program enables the early detection of exotic forest pests and improves the likelihood of successful pest eradication or containment before significant impacts occur. Coordinated by PHA, the program successfully delivered activities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory in 2022-23.
New EPPRD version issued
A new version of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) was issued on Wednesday 3 January 2024. Amendments include changes to contact details and the addition of the onion industry as a crop represented by AUSVEG, following approval by the EPPRD Parties. Please notify epprd@phau.com.au of changes to the contact for notices for your Party to ensure you receive all EPPRD correspondence.
Red imported fire ants could destroy livelihoods
Red imported fire ants (RIFA) were first detected in Australia in 2001 in Queensland and in 2023 they were detected again in northern New South Wales. 23 years later, we take a look back at our CEO Sarah Corcoran’s RIFA address at the 2016 ABARES conference and take stock of Australia’s response to RIFA.
Hort Connection's grower funding
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is supporting grower attendance at Hort Connections 2024 in Melbourne. Qualifying growers can apply for up to $1,000.
Financial assistance for producers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper
If your farm has been impacted by the recent South East Queensland storms, you can now apply for financial assistance to help you with your business recovery.
One billion sterile fruit flies released over Riverland
One billion sterile fruit flies have been released over the Riverland to combat outbreaks in the region following a recent expansion at Port Augusta’s Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility.
Chestnut's Australia 2024 field day
The Chestnut Industry Field Day will be held on Saturday 10 February at the Grand Oaks Resort in Beechworth, Victoria, from 8:00 am.
Australian Mango Conference - early bird registrations
Early bird registrations for the Australian Mango Conference being held on Monday 20 May in Cairns, Queensland, close on Wednesday 31 January.
MYEFO funding for ag sector
The recently announced Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) includes a further $580 million over five years in funding to support our agriculture sector.
GPA welcomes new Board Member and Deputy Chair
The Queensland grain producer and industry advocate, Brendan Taylor, has been appointed to the Grain Producers Australia (GPA) Board, as a Grower Director for the Northern Region.
PCA introduces Board Members and Conference Committee Chair
Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) has introduced Michelle Mak, Melanie Power, Alastair McLean, Jack Mooney, Louise Austin, and Elio Jovicich as Board Members, with Zak Iqbal as the new Conference Committee Chair.
Submissions for Select Committee on Supermarket Prices
In December the Senate resolved that a Select Committee on Supermarket Prices be established to inquire into and report on the price setting practices and market power of major supermarkets. Submissions close on Friday 2 February 2024.
Report on National Food Security released
An inquiry into food security in Australian has recommended a comprehensive National Food Plan, with clear objectives and measurable targets set out in regular updates and action plans.
Research paper on industry levies released
A research paper titled Towards Levyathan? Industry levies in Australia was released in mid-December and explores the evolution of Australian industry levies.
The bug stops here - BMSB
Researchers have developed a new tool in the fight against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). The new environmental DNA (eDNA) test, will assist with rapid detection of the bug.
Biosecurity Tasmania: keeping the message simple
As part of a broader ongoing campaign, Biosecurity Tasmania has identified basic behaviours to help visitors play their role in protecting Tasmania’s primary industries, economy, environment, and way of life from pests and diseases.
Moreton Bay fig trees to be removed from Kings Park
20 Morton Bay fig trees will be removed from Perth's Kings Park after they became infested with a destructive beetle, which has been found in more than 80 suburbs across the city.
AUSVEG launches Industry Sentiment Survey
AUSVEG launched an Industry Sentiment Survey to assist AUSVEG, government and other stakeholders in shaping policy that will support the vegetable industry into the future.
Latest from Prevent Fruit Fly
Agrichemicals for fruit fly
Managing fruit fly in Australian horticulture is challenging and regulatory actions impacting the use of insecticides makes it even more complicated. Kevin Bodnaruk, an expert in the area of pesticide regulation and risk assessment, provides important insight into the mounting domestic and international regulatory pressures on insecticides currently approved for use in Australia to manage fruit fly.
Latest from Grains Farm Biosecurity
Biosecurity matters after prolonged flooding events
Prolonged rain and flooding not only damages crops but increases the risk of weeds, plant pests and diseases establishing in new areas. An uncontrolled body of water adds disease pressure that requires extra vigilance when it comes to spotting anything unusual in paddocks and grain crops.
Latest from Farm Biosecurity
Farm Biosecurity newsletter out now
The latest edition of the Farm Biosecurity newsletter discusses how to make on-farm biosecurity work for you, the National Sheep Health Monitoring Project Annual Report for 2022-23, and how surveillance is an essential component of farm biosecurity.
Importance of equipment hygiene and storage
Storage containers, tools, and feeding equipment can carry pests and diseases. It’s important to regularly clean and disinfect tools and equipment and store it away from potential contaminants.
New farm biosecurity video guides
Agriculture Victoria has released new farm biosecurity video guides to help prevent, eliminate and minimise on-farm biosecurity risks.
Staff movements
Welcome to Lizzie Howie
We are excited to welcome Lizzie Howie as the new Marketing and Communications Officer, based in Canberra. Lizzie has experience working in the not-for-profit space, and has solid external relations, editorial, communications and event experience. She holds a Master’s degree in Communications and has a passion for science and is working to complete a Graduate Certificate of Science in Environment and Sustainability later this year. Lizzie will no doubt be an asset to the Marcomms team.
Farewell to Andrew, Luke, and Felicity
In December we said farewell to Andrew Vossen, Biosecurity Planning Coordinator, Luck McKee, Project Officer: Biosecurity and Planning, and Dr Felicity Andriunas, Manager: Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.
We wish them well in their future endeavours.
Out and about
Congratulations to Dr Bianca Rodrigues Jardim, Networks and Events Coordinator, who received her PhD from La Trobe University in Melbourne in December.
We are also proud of Dr Yvonne Ogaji, Project Officer: Surveillance, who received her PhD in molecular genetics from La Trobe University in Melbourne in December.
The PHA team celebrated our 2023 achievements and highlights in December.
