HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-27 Daily Xml
Contents
Xml

Varroa Mite

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development on the topic of food security in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: This morning, we have heard deeply concerning warnings from the beekeepers industry. The Beekeepers Society of South Australia's Simon Gerblich told ABC Radio Adelaide that the deadly varroa mite detections across our state now at Sellicks Hill, Taratap, Salt Creek and previously in the Riverland pose serious and immediate risk to South Australia's pollination-dependent industries. He stated, and I quote:

South Australia isn't prepared for it. The horticulture industry, pollination industries—if we have a lot of the feral bees wiped out in the next year, it's going to have massive consequences for food security in South Australia.

He goes on to say further:

People have had a false sense of confidence…because I actually thought there were none here…it appears that it's been here, and people just aren't testing.

Given these alarming statements from industry leaders themselves, my questions to the minister are:

1. Why are so many South Australian beekeepers still unaware that varroa mite has entered our state and is now apparently spreading within our state?

2. How many full-time equivalent staff has the department allocated each year for the past three years to communicating the risk of varroa mite, educating beekeepers on surveillance and testing, and managing the state's ongoing varroa response strategy?

3. Does the minister accept that she has failed in her responsibility to minimise the impacts of varroa mite in South Australia by not ensuring adequate communication preparedness and surveillance across industry?

4. Finally, is the minister concerned, as industry clearly is, about the serious risk to South Australia's food security if this state cannot effectively manage varroa mite in both managed and feral bee populations in the months and years ahead?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for her question. As I have outlined in this place on numerous occasions, there has been a great deal of work that has gone into preparing South Australia for the potential incursion of varroa mite. It's unfortunate, but of course not unexpected, that a second detection of varroa mite was confirmed. This was on 20 November this year in hives in the vicinity of Salt Creek in the Limestone Coast region.

On 19 November, a beekeeper undertaking routine surveillance suspected he had detected varroa mite. He subsequently notified PIRSA of the suspect detection. The sample was collected and submitted to SARDI and confirmation was received. Further DNA analysis will confirm the species level of the mite to varroa destructor. This detection has links to additional sites in the region as well as sites in the Southern Fleurieu and Adelaide Hills. I am advised that three of these sites have also now been confirmed as being positive for the presence of varroa mite.

As of today, 27 November, varroa mite has been confirmed at Salt Creek and Taratap in the Limestone Coast area, Sellicks Hill in the Southern Fleurieu and Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. PIRSA biosecurity staff continue to investigate linked properties, apiaries and beekeepers while supporting beekeepers with surveillance and management treatments where required.

There has been a 25-kilometre surveillance buffer instigated to assist PIRSA in contacting and supporting beekeepers who may have an apiary registration within the buffer or who are working in the area. Beekeepers can view the buffers and search as to whether they are in the vicinity of detection through the PIRSA varroa surveillance map. There is currently no evidence, according to my advice, indicating that this detection is linked to the Pooginook detection in the Riverland in September, nor is there evidence the detection is linked to any known interstate movement. A source of the incursion is being investigated but is undetermined at this time.

A biosecurity notice was issued to all registered beekeepers by email on Friday 21 and Wednesday 26 November, with corresponding social media and internet updates to extend the notification reach to unregistered beekeepers. An additional notice is being prepared for issue for tomorrow.

Beekeepers within the vicinity of detection are being urged to undertake monitoring using one of the nationally approved methods, including alcohol wash, soapy water wash and to notify PIRSA via the pirsa.beebiosecurity email box or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline if they suspect that they have detected varroa. The South Australian Varroa Industry Advisory Committee (SAVIAC) has met and is due to be briefed again today.

One of the things that I have spoken about on multiple occasions in this place is the work that has been done in terms of preparation for this. There was the National Varroa Mite Management Program and also the Transition to Management program. Once it was determined nationally that varroa mite could not be eradicated, it was incumbent on all of us to then develop plans for the management of varroa.

SAVIAC was established in South Australia and the management plan was developed by that group. That group includes both hobby beekeepers as well as industry representatives, as well as those who are in pollination-dependent industries.

My advice is that registered beekeepers have been receiving regular communications which cover key varroa information including both state and relevant interstate permit changes, summaries of the discussions at SAVIAC, notification of training and education events, and reminders regarding practices to support good biosecurity such as registration, sampling and surveillance. For example, I know well a hobby beekeeper who, whenever he gets a text message from PIRSA in regard to varroa, always lets me know. That is just an extra piece of information which shows that the information has been getting out to those who are registered.

Since November last year through to October this year, the varroa development officers team have disseminated varroa monitoring and management advice. There have been 837 engagement events incorporating over 1,500 beekeepers across all regions of South Australia.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT