Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Latest Advisories

Subscribing to get Biosecurity Tasmania Advisories is the best way you can keep yourself up-to-date and fully informed about Tasmanian biosecurity issues. Our Advisories cover topics such as changes or proposed changes to Tasmania’s import regulations, animal health and welfare, plant health, forthcoming regulation reviews and opportunities for public comment, new or emerging pest/disease risks and a range of other matters related to Tasmania’s biosecurity.

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Information for Bass Strait Islands

Biosecurity Advisory 39/2024 - Current Calicivirus Situation in Tasmania

Until recently there had been an Australia-wide shortage of calicivirus, however the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania has now been able to secure a supply of calicivirus.

Calicivirus is a biological control agent strategically used by Biosecurity Tasmania to assist landholders manage wild rabbit populations. Calicivirus releases usually occur during autumn when environmental conditions are favourable, to ensure effective use of the virus.

Calicivirus should only be released in drier months, when grass has dried off and rabbits have stopped breeding, to avoid levels of immunity developing in young rabbits.

Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to monitor conditions for a suitable time to release calicivirus. However, it is unlikely that calicivirus releases can occur until autumn 2025.

Landholders are responsible for the control of rabbits on their land and there are a variety of management options available. There are resources available online to assist in planning a rabbit control program.

To support landholders to control the increased rabbit populations, Biosecurity Tasmania staff are available to work directly with landholders to develop rabbit management programs for their property.

Information regarding rabbit control and how to develop a rabbit control program is available on our website at www.nre.tas.gov.au/rabbits

(26/11/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Pasture; Policy and Legislation; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 38/2024 - Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards 2024 - Winners Announced

Champions of Tasmania's biosecurity have been recognised at the second annual Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards, held last week on National Agriculture day.

The awards comprise two categories, the Tasmanian Community Biosecurity Award and the Tasmanian Industry Biosecurity Award, and recognise those who have made a significant contribution to maintaining and improving biosecurity systems in Tasmania.

The recipient of the 2024 Community Biosecurity Award is Bettina Elischer, an employee at the Office of the Governor at Government House Tasmania, for her outstanding contribution to the Tasmanian beekeeping community and the Biosecurity Tasmania statewide bee pest surveillance program.

Bees were reintroduced at the Government House Tasmania Estate in 2015 and have been managed since then to improve horticultural pollination onsite. One hive is also used as a 'sentinel' hive for Biosecurity Tasmania surveillance activities. Bettina has also promoted the importance of biosecurity in beekeeping through educational workshops and bee pest training days.

Just Cats Inc. were also recognised for their community education about stray and feral cats, and the success of multiple initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of stray cats and promoting responsible cat ownership.

TasPorts were the winners of the Industry Biosecurity Award for the work by their Environment and Sustainability Team to increase awareness and knowledge of biosecurity threats at their ports. TasPorts has developed educational and reference material tailored to each port, workshopped biosecurity threats and reporting pathways with operational staff, and conducted follow-up inspections and verifications to ensure compliance.

More information about the annual Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards is available at www.nre.tas.gov.au/tasbiosecurityawards

(22/11/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Freshwater pests; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Livestock; Marine pests; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 37/2024 - Public Consultation open for Potatoes, Myrtle Rust and Grape Phylloxera Import Risk Analyses

The Plant Biosecurity and Diagnostics Branch within Biosecurity Tasmania has completed three Import Risks Analysis (IRA). These IRAs cover two key plant pests of concern to Tasmania (myrtle rust and grape phylloxera), and Tasmania’s first plant commodity level IRA (covering potatoes). The IRAs examine the biosecurity risk along a number of import pathways into the state and whether Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection of ‘very low’ is met.

Recommendations are made in each IRA which would see changes to how some goods are allowed to enter Tasmania.

Each of these IRAs are now open for public consultation, with consultation to close at 5pm on 25 November 2024.

To review and comment on the Draft Import Risk Analysis for Potato please visit Public Consultation - Import Risk Analysis Potato Imports | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to review and comment on the Draft Import Risk Analysis for Myrtle Rust please visit Public Consultation - Draft Import Risk Analysis for Myrtle Rust | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
To review and comment on Draft Import Risk Analysis for Import Requirement 10 - Grape Phylloxera (Hosts and Vectors) please visit Public Consultation - Draft Import Risk Analysis for Import Requirement 10 - Grape Phylloxera - (Hosts and Vectors) | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

All written submissions can be sent to Biosecurity.PlantHealth@nre.tas.gov.au

All submissions will be treated as public information and be published online following the close of consultation unless it is clearly indicated that your submission is to remain confidential. Please note that for published submissions, no personal or contact information will be published other than an individual’s and/or organisation’s name.

(25/10/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 36/2024 - Tasmania is Fruit Fly Free, Help Us Keep it That Way!

Spring is here, which means plant pests and diseases start to become more active. The next several months are the peak times for fruit fly activity on the mainland and this time of year brings with it an increased risk of fruit flies from interstate entering Tasmania. This can happen when fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables are brought to Tasmania without undergoing the appropriate treatments or inspections.

Biosecurity Tasmania has strict controls and ongoing statewide surveillance in place, all aimed at reducing the risk of fruit flies getting into Tasmania. While we are busy working hard to keep fruit fly out of Tasmania, we ask all Tasmanians to keep an eye out for anything unusual in fruits or vegetables this Spring and Summer and to report any signs of fruit fly to us immediately.

Tell-tale signs of fruit fly include live larvae or eggs in the flesh of fruits or vegetables, or small puncture marks on the skin of fresh produce. Fruit fly larvae look similar to blowfly maggots and could potentially be found in fruit that you have purchased, or from fruit grown in your backyard.

Fruit flies lay eggs in a wide range of fruits and fruiting vegetables.

Remember, biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and we all have a general biosecurity duty to keep Tasmania safe. Biosecurity Tasmania works closely with mainland states and territories to help manage the fruit fly risk and we undertake an increased number of inspections at the Tasmanian border on imported fruit fly host produce. However, the risk to Tasmania can never be reduced to zero. Therefore industry, government and the community are encouraged to remain vigilant and work together to help protect Tasmania.

If you notice any larvae in fruit, put the fruit in a sealed bag or container, place it in the refrigerator and contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777. Please DO NOT dispose of any fruit that has larvae inside it.

More information on fruit fly is available at www.nre.tas.gov.au/fruitfly

(2/10/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Natural environment; Plant pests;

Biosecurity Advisory 35/2024 - Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus in South Australia

South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) continues to respond to a detection of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). The virus has been detected on three properties in the Northern Adelaide Plains region and response activities are underway, with samples for testing taken from other properties identified through tracing.

PIRSA is working closely with the affected businesses to manage the outbreak and has implemented movement controls and quarantine measures with the infected properties to manage the risk of the virus spreading and minimise cross contamination.

ToBRFV has not been detected in any other jurisdiction outside of South Australia, including Tasmania. Biosecurity Tasmania is working with PIRSA and other interstate biosecurity agencies to trace any seeds or plant material from the properties that may have moved interstate.

ToBRFV is a highly contagious plant virus that affects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies. It was first detected in the Middle East in 2015 and has since been reported in Europe, China, Mexico and the USA. The detections in South Australia are the first time that the virus has been confirmed in Australia.

Infected plants show symptoms such as mosaic patterns, yellowing and deformities on leaves, while fruits develop brown wrinkled spots, deformations and uneven ripening. These symptoms result in reduced yield and marketability.

The virus has no known effects on human health.

To further protect Tasmanian industries and home gardens, Biosecurity Tasmania’s Chief Plant Protection Officer has put in place an emergency biosecurity direction to prevent the movement of ToBRFV host plants or plant materials from areas known to be infected with the virus.

This emergency biosecurity direction is in addition to the movement controls that PIRSA has already put in place at infected properties in South Australia. The emergency biosecurity direction can be viewed at www.nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/the-tasmanian-biosecurity-compendium/general-biosecurity-directions

As Tasmanians start planning to plant or sow tomato plants or seedlings, we encourage all gardeners to be regularly looking for unusual pests or disease in your garden and continue to source quality seed or seedlings from reputable suppliers and nurseries. These actions will support you in protecting your property and garden from exotic diseases, as well as Tasmania’s many primary producers.

Report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or contact us at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au

For further information about the detections in South Australia visit www.outbreak.gov.au

(1/10/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 34/2024 - Public Consultation Now Open: APVMA Paraquat Review – Proposed Decisions

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has completed a review of paraquat product approvals, product registrations and label approvals that will vary the current conditions for these products. Information on the proposed changes and rationale underpinning them is available from the APVMA.

Paraquat is the active ingredient in a number of widely used and strictly regulated herbicide products (e.g. Gramoxone) used across the agricultural sector to control grasses and other weeds.

Public consultation on these proposed decisions is open now, and closes on 29 October 2024. For further information and to make a submission visit www.apvma.gov.au/news-and-publications/public-consultations/paraquat-and-diquat-proposed-regulatory-decisions

Submissions will be published on the APVMA website, unless requested for the submission to remain confidential. However, all submissions will be considered by the APVMA prior to finalisation of this reconsideration. Submissions or requests for further information can be sent to:

Chemical Review
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
GPO Box 3262
Sydney NSW 2001
Phone: +61 2 6770 2400
Email: chemicalreview@apvma.gov.au

Additional resources:
Paraquat and diquat uses – summary of assessment outcomes in proposed regulatory decision
Paraquat Review Technical Report

(26/9/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Natural environment; Pasture; Seeds; Policy and Legislation; Wildlife; Plant diseases; Plant pests;

Biosecurity Advisory 33/2024 - Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards Nominations Extended

Biosecurity Tasmania has extended the nomination window for the 2024 Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards. Nominations will now close on Monday 30 September 2024. This extended nomination period ensures that everyone has the chance to nominate an individual or business that has significantly contributed to the biosecurity system in Tasmania.

The awards spotlight outstanding biosecurity projects and initiatives, and represent a platform to reinforce, recognise and promote positive biosecurity behavioural change in our industries and the Tasmanian community. They are an opportunity to recognise those in our communities and industries who have gone above and beyond to help protect our environment, primary industries and economy.

To make a nomination, visit www.nre.tas.gov.au/tasbiosecurityawards before Monday 30 September.

(3/9/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Freshwater pests; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Livestock; Marine pests; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife;

Biosecurity Advisory 32/2024 - Celebrating the Inaugural National Biosecurity Week

Australia’s first National Biosecurity Week is on from 26–30 August 2024.

National Biosecurity Week aims to highlight the collaborative efforts of government, industry and the community to safeguard Australia. It’s an opportunity to raise biosecurity awareness and encourage the adoption of good biosecurity practices.

National Biosecurity Week, which will be held in the last week of August each year, will also provide a valuable educational platform with the aim of fostering a culture of shared responsibility and proactive biosecurity management.

For more information and to find out what events are happening during National Biosecurity Week, or to register your own event no matter how big or small, visit https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/national-biosecurity-week/

Biosecurity Tasmania works to protect Tasmania’s public health and wellbeing, primary industries and environment, from the negative impacts of pests, weeds and diseases. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility though, and we all have a role to play in protecting the state from biosecurity threats. It’s our general biosecurity duty.

If you know a biosecurity champion that deserves recognition, don’t forget to nominate them for a Tasmanian Biosecurity Award! The Awards acknowledge individuals, groups and organisations for their significant contribution to biosecurity in Tasmania. Nominations close 31 August 2024. To find out more, or to submit a nomination visit https://nre.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/tasmanian-biosecurity-awards

Our way of life is worth protecting. Biosecurity starts with you.

(28/8/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Freshwater pests; Gene technology; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Livestock; Marine pests; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife; Information for Bass Strait Islands;

Biosecurity Advisory 31/2024 - Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus detected in South Australia

South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is responding to a detection of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV). Quarantine measures have been implemented on the infected properties to manage the risk of spread of the virus and response activities are underway.

To protect your property or garden, continue to source quality seed or seedlings from reputable suppliers or nurseries and keep a regular eye out for unusual pests or disease in your garden.

Report anything unusual immediately to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or contact us at biosecurity.tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au.

For further information about the detections in South Australia visit outbreak.org.au

(27/8/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Horticulture; Invasive Species; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Seeds;

Biosecurity Advisory 30/2024 - Nominations for the 2024 Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards close on 31 August

There are only two weeks left to submit your nominations for the 2024 Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards. The awards recognise outstanding biosecurity projects and represent a platform to reinforce, recognise and promote positive biosecurity behavioural change in the industry and community.

This is an opportunity to recognise those in our communities and industries who have gone above and beyond to help protect our future.

Biosecurity is foundational to the economic, social, and environmental assets of Tasmania and we all share the benefits of our strong biosecurity system. It underpins our multi-billion-dollar agri-food production and export industries, and protects our unique natural wilderness areas that have immeasurable value to all Tasmanians and also visitors to our state.

The awards comprise of two categories, one being the Tasmanian Community Biosecurity Award and the other the Tasmanian Industry Biosecurity Award.

Last year the Tasmanian Community Biosecurity Award was won by Robyn Lewis and the Tasmanian Industry Biosecurity Award by Nic Hansen.

Robyn won for her outstanding management of biosecurity threats to the Milford Forest property, an important ecological site for a number of endemic and endangered species.

Nic was recognised for his contribution and assistance during the 2018 fruit fly incursion in Tasmania and the successful emergency response and eradication that followed.

If you or someone you know has personally contributed towards improving biosecurity in Tasmania, or if they are part of an organisation or group, you can place a nomination today.

More information about the awards and nominations can be found at www.nre.tas.gov.au/tasbiosecurityaward

(20/8/2024)
Categories: Cropping; Freshwater pests; Gene technology; Horticulture; Information for Bass Strait Islands; Invasive Species; Livestock; Marine pests; Natural environment; Pasture; Plant diseases; Plant pests; Policy and Legislation; Seeds; Timber imports; Wildlife;

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