The Coalition Government is strengthening the surveillance of Australia’s bee population for exotic pests, protecting an industry worth $2.5 billion to horticulture alone.
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More than $587,000 is being invested into Plant Health Australia to enhance the successful National Bee Pest Surveillance Program.
“The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program delivers a range of surveillance activities at likely entry points of bee pests and pest bees, like Asian honey bees, throughout Australia,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, said.
“The program’s primary objective is to be an early warning system for new threats before they establish, to limit the scale and cost of eradication, and to support Australia’s pest free status which is vital for trade.
“This includes virus diagnostics and surveillance around a range of bee viruses that are exotic to Australia, increased Asian honey bee surveillance, deploying improved remote catch-boxes in remote locations or areas of high risk and the trial of Asian hornet traps at key ports.
“Asian honey bees are a threat as they are a natural host for varroa mite, which was found in Townsville in June 2016.
“This program supports Australia’s $101 million honey bee industry and all the industries dependent on pollination for crop production.
“More than 65 per cent of all the crops produced in Australia in the horticulture sector alone are dependent on pollination, so it is vital we protect our native bee colonies.”
