Plant Health Australia (PHA), the national coordinating body for plant health in Australia working in partnership with Government, industry, researchers and others to improve biosecurity policy and practice, has just celebrated a decade of being a driving force in its field.
“PHA has chalked up a host of successes, however, would have been possible without the support of our Government and industry members. This milestone celebrates their efforts as much as our own,” said Dr Tony Gregson, chairman of PHA and a director since its inception.
Since its establishment in April 2000, PHA and its 46 members (including A3P) have made significant progress towards a more effective national plant health management system. Some of PHA’s key achievements include:
– leading the development and operation of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) – the binding agreement between Government and industry covering the management and funding of responses to emergency plant pest incidents, which includes the potential for affected growers to receive reimbursement for losses,
– leading the development of PLANTPLAN, the nationally agreed technical plan guiding responses to emergency plant pest incidents,
– industry biosecurity plans in place, or being developed, for all 30 Industry Members,
– identification of high priority pests for all Industry Members,
– training over 580 and industry personnel in emergency response arrangements since 2005,
– elevating grower consciousness about the importance of early detection and reporting of emergency plant pests,
– establishment of the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 085 881,
– facilitating development of Australia’s first National Fruit Fly Strategy and Action Plan,
– coordinating development of the draft National Plant Health Strategy that establishes goals for the plant health system for the next 10 years and which will support delivery of recommendations from the 2008 review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity services (the Beale Review),
– secured Australian Government and stakeholder support to form the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity
– secured Australian Government support and won the bid to host the Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network
– nationally coordinated databases of plant pests and plant health experts,
– development of customised tools that are helping growers improve farm biosecurity management practices.
“These achievements have been fundamental to safeguarding the livelihoods of producers and the sustainability and profitability of our plant industries. It is a record that deserves to be celebrated,” Dr Gregson said.
“Looking toward the next decade, the Beale Review has called for reforms to the national biosecurity system to improve coordination, performance and maintain our pre-eminent status internationally. As we have in the past, PHA will certainly be there, playing the role our members require in delivering these reforms, drawing on our technical expertise, strategic capability and partnership approach. Members, growers and the broader community can count on PHA to continue building on our record of success.”
