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Workshop to tailor response to plant pest incursions
13 October 2009
Stakeholders in the grains and horticulture industries are invited to attend a free workshop to streamline the State’s response to an emergency plant pest incursion.
The workshop will be hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Food and Plant Health Australia on 5 November at the department’s South Perth offices.
Emergency plant pests are exotic pests or variant forms of established pests which could have an adverse economic impact regionally or nationally if established in Australia.
GrainGuard and Plant Health Australia National Grains On-farm Biosecurity coordinator Lisa Sherriff said it was important for everyone involved to understand the national incident response processes and their roles and responsibilities in them.
“The Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) provides the national framework for managing a response to an emergency plant pest incursion, which is underpinned by a technical response guide called PLANTPLAN,” Mrs Sherriff said.
“Plant Health Australia manages this framework and the stakeholder partnerships required for consistent responses to incidents right across the country.
“It is crucial that industry, government, research and community stakeholders understand the framework to ensure prompt and effective responses and to safeguard production and markets.”
The workshop will examine the details of the EPPRD and PLANTPLAN, as well as biosecurity plans for individual industries.
There will also be an incident simulation debrief, as well as discussion about the progress of the GrainGuard, HortGuard and OrdGuard industry biosecurity initiatives.
“The workshop will be a valuable investment, not only for the individuals involved but also the industries they represent,” Mrs Sherriff said.
“The effectiveness of a response to a plant pest incursion is largely determined by the quick and coordinated action of those involved. If all stakeholders are informed and prepared the likelihood of success is vastly improved.”
The Biosecurity Awareness Workshop will be held on Thursday, 5 November at the Department of Agriculture and Food’s South Perth Theatrette from 9am to 12.30pm. Participants must register to attend by Monday, 26 October by emailing Lisa Sherriff on lsherriff@agric.wa.gov.au
More information on the EPPRD, PLANTPLAN and specific industry Biosecurity Plans can be found at www.planthealthaustralia.com.au.
Media contacts:
Lisa Sherriff, GrainGuard coordinator, 9690 2000/0447 851 801
Lisa Bertram, media liaison, 9368 3937/9368 3325
To arrange an interview with the presenters:
Jim McGrath, Plant Health Australia 0407 067 305