Gaps in biosecurity shield putting farmers at risk

Victorian farmers are at risk of their crops falling victim to pests and diseases, risking the loss of access to vital markets because state authorities are falling behind. A report from the state auditor-general has found Agriculture Victoria, which manages plant biosecurity, has missed national surveillance and regulatory targets. It also says the agency potentially lacks the trained and technical staff needed to respond to future pest and disease threats. Victoria is Australia's biggest exporter of food and fibre products, making up almost a quarter of the national total. "If plant pests or diseases enter Victoria, Victorian producers could lose access to domestic and international markets," the auditor-general's report said. Agriculture Victoria is working to contain five plant pests and diseases through a nationally integrated system to prepare for and manage outbreaks. One of these is phylloxera, a tiny yellow insect that feeds on grapevine roots and kills vines within six years. There is no way to eradicate phylloxera, which is currently limited to NSW and Victoria. The auditor-general found while Agriculture Victoria conducted a wide range of surveillance for early pest detection, it sometimes fell short of targets agreed under national programs. The report also found the agency failed to complete a quarter of scheduled audits in produce areas and on properties between mid-2019 and mid-2023. Following the successful eradication of the khapra beetle in Victoria in 2023, Agriculture Victoria itself conceded it lacked the necessary skilled staff to effectively contain a similar outbreak. Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president Danyel Cucinotta was unsurprised by the report. "Planning to protect our multibillion-dollar farming sector against biosecurity threats is worthless unless adequate resourcing is in place," she said in a statement. Ms Cucinotta is an egg-producer who, despite operating outside the effected area of the recent H7N3 bird flu outbreak in western Victoria, knows first-hand the impact outbreaks have on agricultural industries, supply chains, produce and livestock. "There's no substitute to having boots on the ground and this report's findings are all too predictable following the government's decision to withdraw vital funding from Agriculture Victoria," she said. The H7N3 outbreak has led to the culling of more than two million commercial birds nationwide. Farmers are dreading the likely arrival of the deadly H5N1 strain, which has been detected on all continents except Australia. The auditor-general recommended Agriculture Victoria's surveillance work be guided and targeted in line with risk levels, better compliance audit planning, and more staff training and capability development. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, which oversees the agency, has agreed to the report's recommendations and written an action plan in response. In his response, department secretary John Bradley acknowledged the importance of effectively preparing for, preventing, managing, and responding to plant pests and diseases in Victoria.