Parliament of Australia: House of Representatives

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Honey bee industries calls for $50 million in biosecurity

A new report on the honey bee industries is calling for $50 million to be spent on increasing biosecurity to shield Australian honey bees from pests that could inturn threaten billions of dollars in agriculture.

The House of Representatives Primary Industries and Resources Committee has released its report, More Than Honey: the future of the Australian honey bee and pollination industries. The 210-page report addresses the challenges facing the honey bee and related industries in Australia.

The report’s key recommendations are that funding of $50 million per annum be provided for biosecurity measures and industry research, and that a national centre for honey bee and pollination industry research, training and extension is established.

Committee Chair, Dick Adams (Member for Lyons, Tas), said that: “The honey bee industry is vital to the future of agriculture in Australia. Honey bees pollinate many of the crops we rely on for food. Without bees, many horticultural industries would not be viable and the nation’s food security would be at risk.”

Mr Adams emphasised that there was a clear need for investment in biosecurity measures, especially the National Sentinel Hive Program, and research and development for the industry. “Only by committing to such investment will our honey bee industry and pollination dependent agricultural industries remain strong and viable into the future,” he said.

The report’s 25 recommendations include:

• Providing funding and organisational resources to establish and run Pollination Australia;
• Establishing guidelines for beekeeper access to public lands, including national parks;
• Providing incentives for the planting and conservation of melliferous flora;
• Maintaining and enhancing the National Sentinel Hive Program;
• Fast tracking the pre-registration of pesticides to combat a Varroa incursion;
• Improving Australia’s pest and disease incursion response capacity;
• Establishing and funding a new honey bee quarantine facility;
• Establishing and funding a national endemic pest and disease control program;
• A request that the ACCC investigate pricing practices;
• A request that the Productivity Commission investigate the long term viability of the honey bee industry;
• Improve product standards for imported honey; and
• Better product labelling.

Copies of the report can be obtained from the committee’s website at:http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/pir/honeybee/report.htm or by emailing: pir.reps@aph.gov.au