Varroa Mite

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of biosecurity and varroa mite.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: On 3 September 2025, the minister issued a statement confirming that PIRSA's Apiary Unit surveillance teams had identified the presence of varroa mite in a managed beehive in Pooginook in the Riverland. This was confirmed by SARDI and was reported to have originated from a consignment of hives from Queensland. The statement also outlined that PIRSA had commenced sampling, implemented treatments and placed restrictions on movement from the site. Given the significant risk this pest poses to the South Australian honeybee population, pollination services and key industries such as almonds, my questions to the minister are:

1. Can the minister confirm whether the consignment of hives in which varroa was detected is still present in South Australia or have they since been moved out of the state?

2. Has PIRSA confirmed whether additional hives from the same Queensland consignment have also tested positive for varroa mite?

3. What biosecurity tracing measures have been implemented to determine whether any hives from this consignment or hives in close proximity to this consignment have been relocated within South Australia before detection?

4. Can the minister provide clarity on what resources, both staff and laboratory capacity, PIRSA currently has available to undertake timely testing and tracing of affected hives?

5. Will the minister and her department be providing weekly public updates via the PIRSA website to industry and the community on the spread, containment and management of varroa within South Australia?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his question. All beehives connected to South Australia's first varroa mite detection have been removed from the state. The varroa mite detection in a managed hive in the Riverland was made during surveillance activities which have been in place since varroa was first detected in New South Wales in 2022.

Following detection the hives on the impacted orchard were treated with acaricides and sticky mats, which were deployed to support containment. The hives that were on that property were from Queensland and Western Australia and were moved out of the state. According to my advice, the hives in which varroa was detected were from the hives in Queensland. PIRSA has also placed catch boxes across the affected orchard to capture any remaining bees and any potential swarms. Sentinel hives are being installed for long-term surveillance.

There is one South Australian beekeeper with hives located within the 25-kilometre surveillance buffer. That beekeeper's hives are obviously under active monitoring. No varroa mites have been visually observed but samples have been sent to the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) for further examination.

There is a community meeting in Loxton tomorrow, Thursday 18 September, to provide local beekeepers and growers with the latest updates. PIRSA is also engaging directly with all registered beekeepers within the 25-kilometre surveillance buffer to ensure they have access to information and assistance. We do encourage all beekeepers to reach out for additional information and, of course, the first point of call can be the PIRSA website.

There is a new heat map tool on the PIRSA website which shows both positive detections and negative records in the buffer zone and across the state. Beekeepers can check their location by entering their address details into the search bar. The heat map does rely on voluntary contributions by beekeepers, so it is worth just mentioning that caveat, and we do encourage all beekeepers to provide information to PIRSA as quickly as they are able to.

PIRSA will continue to work with the South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee (SAVIAC), South Australian apiary associations, local beekeepers and national counterparts to slow the spread of varroa and support industry through the national transition to management program as well as the South Australian response plan that was developed with SAVIAC, which represents industry, hobby beekeepers and pollination-dependent industries, among others.

All South Australian beekeepers are encouraged to visit the website, where they can get information to inspect their hives regularly using one of the recommended methods—that includes things such as the alcohol wash or the soapy water wash—and report any suspect detections immediately to PIRSA.