Biosecurity

Adam Kerezsy ... the inland rivers of Australia's Murray-Darling Basin are already well-inhabited by invasive – or alien – species ... Unfortunately, in the Lachlan, there’s a new kid on the block. Oriental weatherloach is an eel-like animal from Asia that started off in Australia as an aquarium fish.

Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula's commercial fishers have again called for a ban on all fishing in Gulf St Vincent to allow stocks to rebuild. Russell Boord, of Port Moorowie, said the extent of the damage caused by the bloom required drastic measures, and backed the request for a ban made by commercial fishers to the Senate's algal bloom inquiry committee in Ardrossan in early September.

An invasive weed not seen in the Lockyer Valley for more than half a century has been detected at Forest Hill, prompting Council to issue an alert. A Lockyer Valley Regional Council contractor recently raised the alarm after stumbling upon an infestation of rubber vine in the rail reserve at Forest Hill.

Whether the risks posed by imports from Australia's trading partners are being sufficiently assessed and addressed, whether we really need to or should import certain products at all, and whether Australia is becoming complacent, resigned, or courting disaster for political Brownie points - such questions are being asked more often. ... This last week, Australia's biosecurity around beef and banana imports was called into question by David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister. ARR.News sought a response from Julie Collins, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ...

Businesses and families financially impacted by the harmful algal bloom have been left wanting by the State Government’s most recent announcement on how it plans to keep our beaches open during summer ... “While our lifesavers do an outstanding job keeping our beaches safe, algae doesn’t swim between the flags,” Mr Tarzia said.

Australian beekeepers are being urged to share their experiences in the 2025 COLOSS Survey, as the industry faces rising costs and labour demands from Varroa destructor (Varroa) management. The 2024 Australian Colony Loss (COLOSS) Survey revealed that Varroa is costing the honey bee industry more than just dollars, with labour impacts also increasing.

Sarah Herrmann. Garfish, whiting and calamari stock assessment began in Gulf St Vincent last week, with the opposition calling the government's timing "sluggish". The state government announced a "rapid assessment of fish stocks and fisheries" on July 22 to measure the impact of the algal bloom, but more than two months later, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Nicola Centofanti said there had been little evidence of a rapid response.

Biosecurity measures have been bolstered to protect Kangaroo Island’s world-famous Ligurian bee population from the parasitic pest varroa mite. Every ferry bound for Kangaroo Island is now subject to biosecurity checks and a sentinel hive program has started to roll out across the island following the first detection of varroa mite in South Australia last month.

...The $30 million Farm Business Transition Program will provide grants of up to $75,000 per applicant to help eligible sheep producers prepare for the phase out, with funding to support new business plans or the adoption of alternative farming practices. The program will be delivered over two rounds, with $20 million available in round one opening next week, and $10 million to be made available in 2026.

Australia’s sheep industry is at a turning point - and producers are being asked to help write the next chapter. Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) has launched the development of The Future Flock, a national strategy designed to guide the sheepmeat and wool sector through change and set a profitable, resilient direction for decades to come. ARR.News asked some questions of SPA CEO Bonnie Skinner about The Future Flock and national strategy.