THE detection of varroa mite in beehives in the New South Wales towns of Euston and Balranald, just across the Murray River from Mallee, raises significant biosecurity concerns.
An emergency order is barring the movement of beehives in NSW after varroa mites, first detected at the port of Newcastle, were found at Euston and Balranald.
Hives located in Victoria that are within NSW’s 25km surveillance emergency zone (SEZ) at those towns cannot be moved.
Hives may have been moved around for the purpose of almond and canola pollination before that detection, so beekeepers are warned to be extra vigilant.
An outbreak of any size would have a dramatic effect on our farmers if their yields are reduced due to hives being unavailable.
If you suspect an exotic pest or disease outbreak, report it through the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
For more information and to attain permits for moving hives and equipment if you are within a SEZ and in Victoria visit the Agriculture Victoria website.
Labor has in the past dragged the chain on the issue of biosecurity, but at the same time they need to ensure the cost of delivery does not negatively impact our farmers and families.
This is why I am against Labor’s new fresh food tax, which is in the form of a $153 million biosecurity levy that will force local farmers to pay for the biosecurity risk of international importers.
The new tax on farmers will inevitably be passed onto consumers, which means families will have even higher grocery bills at the checkout.
I urge you to register your interest online to help stop this senseless new tax.
For more information and to make a submission to the inquiry go to haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-funding.
The position of The Nationals is that foreign importers who create biosecurity risks should pay for that mitigation, but Labor has instead chosen to charge Australian farmers. It is policy nonsense and shows how out of touch Labor is with regional issues.
