Australia maintains its freedom from many serious plant pests by devoting considerable resources to plant biosecurity. It’s a status that, while often taken for granted, benefits all Australians. Our unique ecosystems, vigorous plant production industries, high standard of social amenity and rural way of life are sustained by the system.

The National Plant Biosecurity Status Report documents the pest species that pose a significant threat to our nation and charts the efforts of the government, industry, research and community partners in maintaining and strengthening the plant biosecurity system.

This year, the content of the report has been rearranged to better reflect the multiple contributions that stakeholders make to maintain the integrity of the system – the plant biosecurity partnership. Activities are set out in accordance with the system’s three layers of protection: pre-border, at the border and post-border.

Setting the content out in this way emphasises the role of everyday Australians as they go about their daily activities. Each of us has a role to play in keeping unwanted pests from spreading to and within Australia and it is hoped that the new format will assist in raising understanding of shared responsibility.

The final chapter of the book collates and analyses the 700 scientific projects being carried out at multiple institutions around the country. It is included in a chapter of its own since scientific knowledge underpins all layers of biosecurity in Australia. Each project sheds light on some aspect of plant or bee biosecurity that will inform better management of pests and crop production. The data is more robust this year, due to the use of an improved data collection technique.

Throughout the book the reader will find feature articles, which make apparent the significance of all of this activity. Examples of how the system works in specific circumstances brings the system to life.

This 2017 edition has been developed from some 90 contributions from plant biosecurity stakeholders. PHA is grateful for the cooperation that allows its publication.ational Plant Biosecurity RD&E Strategy

• Endorsed by PIMC December 2013

• Implementation Committee formed August 2014

• Cross sectorial strategy so no direct RDC to report to

• PHA provides Chair, Strategy Leader and Executive

Officer

Plant Biosecurity RD&E Strategy links to:

• Other AGSOC National Primary Industries RD&E

Framework

sector & cross sectoral strategies

• National Plant Biosecurity Strategy

• Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity Schedule 8

• Environmental Biosecurity Strategy – links with weeds

and environmental pests

• National Fruit Fly Strategy

• Other relevant plant RD&E committees

A cross sectoral approach to biosecurity has led to collaborative funding and quarterly meetings by the Implementation Committee to develop a Strategic and Annual Operating Plan, reporting status of biosecurity concerns, activities and actions within Australia agricultureThe recent announcement relating to the seven plant RDCs provides an opportunity for the RDCs to better manage collaborative cross sectorial arrangements in plant biosecurity RD&E. Following from 2016/17, with tthe appointment of an independent chair and a program director employed by the RDCs, the PHA continues to be focused on the development and coordination of plant biosecurity research, development and extension activities. In addition, this role will provide a coordination link between the RDCs committee, the AGSOC R&I committee and the work undertaken by the National Biosecurity Committee who have now established a focus on plant biosecurity RD&E. The RDC committee provides a single point of contact for the AGSOC Plant Biosecurity Committee and will enable cross sectorial opportunities to be considered by all RDCs. Examples of this include the outcomes of the whitefly and transmitted viruses and diagnostic workshop outputs.