The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia disclaim any liability, whether negligent or otherwise, arising out of the use or publication thereof. With greater community awareness of the importance of biosecurity in Western Australia, there is a significant opportunity to improve government, community and industry engagement, participation and input in biosecurity matters. The Council's main role is to advise the Minister and Director General of DPIRD on any biosecurity matter, whether referred to the Council by the Minister or Director General or ex officio.
He is currently Professor of Biosecurity at Murdoch University and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Harry Butler Institute. Ms Tina Thorne (Deputy Chair, until December 2019) was until recently the Executive Officer of the State's peak aquaculture industry body, the Aquaculture Council of Western Australia. Dr Regina Flugge (Deputy Chair, 2020) has a long history with natural resource management, including as a member of the Rangelands Regional Assessment Panel for the Natural Heritage Trust in the late 1990s.
He currently serves as President of the Abalone Association of Australasia and is a Director of the Aquaculture Association of Western Australia. Network and participate as a member of the WHO Emergency Committee for COVID-19, established by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations. He initiated the international One Health Congress and is currently the vice-chairman of the One Health Platform Foundation.
He co-wrote the proposal and served as interim Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre, served on the Commonwealth Biosecurity Advisory Council and has several advisory offices for the.
Council activities in 2019/20
Putting WA’s science expertise and financial
Understanding the R&D priorities will enable DPIRD to drive the R&D agenda and thereby ensure meaningful biosafety research and innovation that will benefit the state. For WA to be perceived as an attractive partner for R&D, attracting more opportunities for the state and taking strategic leads on national projects, it must attract and retain scientific excellence within the country. Opportunities for WA to engage in national biosecurity research and innovation, where WA has a comparative advantage.
Contact and determine how the Australian National Phenome Center can be used effectively. With DNA sequencing and 'omics' methodologies now widespread and affordable as a research tool, how it is applied in a regulatory and trade sensitive environment is an ongoing challenge. WA has now opened the Australian National Phenome Centre, which is unrivaled in capacity in the Southern Hemisphere and arguably the world.
Explore the possibility of a new collaborative entity in biosecurity risk assessment that commits to an ongoing risk assessment and prioritization program appropriate for WA. Although priority pest lists can usefully serve a national purpose, there is a widespread view that such lists have limited utility in WA. This could be through direct partnerships, or it could be a role assumed by a state-based university.
Among the various tools and applications in the name of citizen science, DPIRD's MyPestGuide Reporter stands out. Devote science and resources to ongoing applied research in prevention, disinfestation, and eradication techniques for high-priority biosecurity risks. Research and innovation in prevention, disinfestation and eradication is very much in the interest of industry and largely a private good.
This could be administered through the industry funding schemes or as an "innovation challenge programme". Explore a collaborative program with national scope for research and innovation in endangered native species conservation. WA has a comparative advantage in leading nationally and engaging globally, given the unique ecosystems and species found here.
Engaging in biosecurity research and innovation nationally will help build and retain WA’s science
Council produced a paper during the year documenting key issues around the DPR/RBG approach based on their observations and understanding of how RBGs are implemented in WA. The Council is studying the report and expects to finalize its advice to the Minister and DPIRD in the 2020/21 reporting period. During investigations into interagency cooperation, the Council identified a fundamental breakdown in situations where biosecurity measures span multiple state government agencies—for example, for the environment.
In late 2016 Council decided to continue this work by examining how environmental biosecurity is being addressed in WA. The Council submitted its report on environmental biosecurity to the Directors General of DPIRD and DBCA in February 2018. In 2019/20, the Council's report was submitted to the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Minister for the Environment for consideration.
Since the Council advised on this in 2016, the Council has been closely monitoring biosecurity financing mechanisms. With the proposed revision of the BAM Act, it is time to review the current biosecurity financing. An important part of this work will be the implementation of the recommendations from the Council's work to the DPR/.
In the course of the year 2019/2020, the Council has drawn up its work plan to guide its investigations in this area. Biosafety perceptions Previous Council work highlighted biosafety awareness as an important factor influencing and supporting WA's biosafety system. It is critical to be able to confidently articulate the social, environmental, cultural and economic (quadruple bottom line) value of WA's biosecurity system.
This gave the Council confidence that the government agencies were taking a proactive, collaborative approach to myrtle blight prevention, preparedness and early detection. The Board used these opportunities to highlight the role of the Board, the work being undertaken and, where appropriate, its recommendations on key issues. The issues raised during the visit with the Council were discussed with DPIRD and the Minister.
In 2019/20 the council adhered to its code of conduct and acted with integrity as set out in the Western Australian Public Sector Code of Ethics. In addition, the Board operated within the Statements of Duties set out for the Chair, Members and Executive Director and in accordance with the BAM Act and Deed of Appointment (Appendix A).
Progress on past Council recommendations
DPIRD has made progress towards the findings in the report as part of a departmental restructuring and. DPIRD continues to put in place actions and processes to support its ability to maintain biosecurity. Several biosecurity interventions since the report was delivered have given the department further opportunity to assess results, review.
As previously described, at the end of 2016 the Board decided to continue its work on inter-agency cooperation by focusing on how ecological biosecurity is being addressed in WA. The report was later handed over to the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister of the Environment. The report made five strategic recommendations to ensure the integration of environmental biosecurity as a core function of DPIRD, with effective inter-agency collaboration to drive it forward.
Further work is needed to improve the understanding of biosecurity as a shared responsibility and to clarify and include the responsibilities of all stakeholders, including private landowners. DPIRD continues to implement control and eradication programs for certain environmental pests to prevent them from establishing in WA, including the red imported fire ant and the browsing ant. Territorial projects dealing with weeds and species of environmental and social importance such as yellow crazy ants and macao paper wasps.
The council used a recent incursion of tomato and potato psyllids as a starting point for advising on how to improve the agency's capability for future biosecurity incidents. These are designed to help address capacity and staff skills issues and support the department's readiness for future market access negotiations.
Cost of Council operations in 2019/20
Direction for 2020/2021
Acronyms
Appendix A
