Biosecurity Council of Western Australia Annual Report 2018/19

In 2018/19 there were four key areas in which the Council focused during the year: • the attributes required by a biosecurity ‘combat’ agency to effectively sustain a biosecurity response • funding for biosecurity research and development in WA • border biosecurity; and • WA’s preparedness for myrtle rust.https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/ar_bcwa/1004/thumbnail.jp

The worldwide airline network and the dispersal of exotic species: 2007–2010

International air travel has played a significant role in driving recent increases in the rates of biological invasion and spread of infectious diseases. By providing high speed, busy transport links between spatially distant, but climatically similar regions of the world, the worldwide airline network (WAN) increases the risks of deliberate or accidental movements and establishment of climatically sensitive exotic organisms. With traffic levels continuing to rise and climates changing regionally, these risks will vary, both seasonally and year-by-year. Here, detailed estimates of air traffic trends and climate changes for the period 2007–2010 are used to examine the likely directions and magnitudes of changes in climatically sensitive organism invasion risk across the WAN. Analysis of over 144 million flights from 2007–2010 shows that by 2010, the WAN is likely to change little overall in terms of connecting regions with similar climates, but anticipated increases in traffic and local variations in climatic changes should increase the risks of exotic species movement on the WAN and establishment in new areas. These overall shifts mask spatially and temporally heterogenous changes across the WAN, where, for example, traffic increases and climatic convergence by July 2010 between parts of China and northern Europe and North America raise the likelihood of exotic species invasions, whereas anticipated climatic shifts may actually reduce invasion risks into much of eastern Europe

A surveillance sector review applied to infectious diseases at a country level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The new International Health Regulations (IHR) require World Health Organization (WHO) member states to assess their core capacity for surveillance. Such reviews also have the potential to identify important surveillance gaps, improve the organisation of disparate surveillance systems and to focus attention on <it>upstream </it>hazards, determinants and interventions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We developed a <it>surveillance sector review </it>method for evaluating all of the surveillance systems and related activities across a sector, in this case those concerned with infectious diseases in New Zealand. The first stage was a systematic description of these surveillance systems using a newly developed framework and classification system. Key informant interviews were conducted to validate the available information on the systems identified.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 91 surveillance systems and related activities in the 12 coherent categories of infectious diseases examined. The majority (n = 40 or 44%) of these were disease surveillance systems. They covered all categories, particularly for more severe outcomes including those resulting in death or hospitalisations. Except for some notifiable diseases and influenza, surveillance of less severe, but important infectious diseases occurring in the community was largely absent. There were 31 systems (34%) for surveillance of <it>upstream </it>infectious disease hazards, including risk and protective factors. This area tended to have many potential gaps and lack integration, partly because such systems were operated by a range of different agencies, often outside the health sector. There were fewer surveillance systems for determinants, including population size and characteristics (n = 9), and interventions (n = 11).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>It was possible to create and populate a workable framework for describing all the infectious diseases surveillance systems and related activities in a single developed country and to identify potential surveillance sector gaps. This is the first stage in a review process that will lead to identification of priorities for surveillance sector development.</p

Sustaining a biosecurity response: What makes an effective and contemporary biosecurity ‘combat’ agency? Summary report by the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia

The overall purpose of this work was to provide advice and guidance to the Minister for Agriculture and Food and Director General of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) on how the combined skills and resources of DPIRD can better sustain a high-level biosecurity response whilst retaining the integrity of its other functions. To develop this advice, two key activities were undertaken: Information gathering and review (via literature review and key informant interviews) to identify the essential characteristics of a biosecurity combat agency; the skillsets required to respond to high-level biosecurity incidents; and ways biosecurity combat agencies minimise the impact of high-level incident response on other business areas within the agency; and Stakeholder consultation on what they view as the key features of an effective, contemporary biosecurity combat agency

Biosecurity Council visit to Augusta - August 2020

The Biosecurity Council of Western Australia has committed to holding annual regional meetings. The intent of the regional meetings is to: Engage with local/regional stakeholders on biosecurity matters Build networks/relationships with key biosecurity stakeholders Provide a conduit to government/DPIRD for local/regional biosecurity stakeholders. For its second regional meeting Council agreed to visit Augusta, located in the South West Region of Western Australia. The region is home to a large and diverse horticultural sector, aquaculture enterprises as well as livestock, for which biosecurity is important. In addition, it is a biodiversity hotspot with large tracts of natural bushland and aquatic environments making environmental biosecurity paramount. Declared pest rates have recently been introduced in parts of the region to provide funding for community-driven activities targeting established pests. As the Minister requested Council advice on declared pest rates and biosecurity groups (which coordinate expenditure of declared pest rates), holding the regional meeting in Augusta facilitated discussions with stakeholders on this topic. The Biosecurity Council visited Augusta from 3 - 6 August 2020

Biosecurity research and development in Western Australia - report by the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia

Research and development (R&D) is crucial to managing Western Australia’s biosecurity risks and threats. There is a perception, however, that these risks and threats could be better recognised nationally, which may result in greater levels of funding for biosecurity R&D activities relevant to Western Australia (WA). The purpose of this work was to provide advice to the Minister for Agriculture and Food on the status of biosecurity R&D in WA and opportunities to enhance biosecurity R&D funding in the State

Biosecurity Council of Western Australia annual report 2020/2021

Understanding the needs and challenges of industry, community and government is key to ensuring relevant and constructive advice to government. During 2020/21, the Council continued to monitor biosecurity-related developments at national and State levels and proactively engaged with industry, community and government on biosecurity matters. The key areas of advice that were progressed during the year were: mechanisms for funding biosecurity in WA the effectiveness of WA’s border biosecurity system how Western Australians perceive ‘biosecurity’ and their role in pest, weed and disease prevention, surveillance and response; and the quadruple bottom line of biosecurity

Environmental biosecurity in Western Australia - report by the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia

In 2013, during investigations of cross-agency collaboration, the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia (the Council) identified a fundamental breakdown in situations where biosecurity actions span multiple State Government agencies — such as for environmental biosecurity. The reasons for this breakdown are complex, and have been highlighted in further work undertaken by the Council since that time. In broad terms, the issues can be categorised into: i) definitions;ii) roles and responsibilities; andiii) resourcing; with unclear government policy an important contributing factor. In late 2016, the Council resolved to further this work, with a focus on how environmental biosecurity is being addressed in Western Australia. The Council held a workshop with members of the Biosecurity Senior Officers Group (BSOG) in April 2017 to discuss and clarify State Government activities to maintain the biosecurity of Western Australia’s environmental assets. Initial scoping identified two key areas requiring attention: harmonising a whole-of-government approach; and resourcing. The workshop enabled these areas to be explored and the issues to come to the fore. The information from the workshop, coupled with the Council deliberations, form the foundation of this report

Biosecurity and market access: An assessment of the capacity of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia to address plant industry market access issues during a biosecurity response - summary report by the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia

In late April 2017, the Minister for Agriculture and Food (the Minister) requested advice from the Biosecurity Council of Western Australia (the Council) on the capability and capacity of the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) for securing market access in a horticultural biosecurity incident. DAFWA’s response to the recent tomato-potato psyllid (TPP) incursion was to be the starting point for advising how agency capability can be improved for future biosecurity incidents. An ‘Issues Statement’ was developed to provide a summary of the potential underpinning factors that may have contributed to the major loss of market access and inability to recover access in a timely way, during the TPP incident. This was used to inform in-depth interviews with industry and government stakeholders. The information gathered provided a strong foundation for the Council’s advice to government

Biosecurity Council of Western Australia annual report 2022/2023

During 2022/23, the Council continued to monitor biosecurity related developments at national and state levels and proactively engaged with industry, community, and government on biosecurity matters. The statutory review of the BAM Act also provided opportunities for Council’s previous reports and recommendations to be used as a solid information source for the responsible reviewing agency and its consultants