QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ACTS SWIFTLY ON SMUT REPORT
Published Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 at 10:19 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
The Queensland Government has reinforced its commitment to the state’s billion-dollar sugar industry by endorsing an independent report into the economic impact of sugarcane smut by Dr David Watson.
Mr Mulherin tabled the report today in State Parliament.
“Dr Watson has provided a thorough independent assessment of the impact of the disease on the sugar industry and made a number of important recommendations to facilitate economic recovery.
“The report, The Economic Impact of Sugarcane Smut on the Queensland Sugarcane Industry, was presented to myself and the Minister for State Development John Mickel,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
The report was commissioned in November last year when it became clear that cane smut was widespread and established and that it was no longer possible to prevent or control its spread, having been discovered first in the Bundaberg-Childers region, then Mackay and the Herbert.
“The Queensland Government then moved from a science-based, industry-approved, containment and eradication approach to a long-term economic management approach,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“This approach was driven largely by industry and supported by Canegrowers, BSES and the Australian Sugar Milling Council. ‘’
Mr Mulherin told State Parliament today that, according to the Watson report, the impact of sugarcane smut was not as great as was initially expected.
“The report contains a number of recommendations, including:
• Normal planting should continue uninterrupted;
• The industry should replace smut-susceptible varieties with smut resistant varieties during their normal cycle;
• Decisions relating to the approved variety lists for planting should be made on the basis of consultation with and advice from BSES and industry in each of Queensland’s six Pest Quarantine Areas and
• That the Government should increase its input into research and the breeding of smut-resistant varieties of cane.
“Concurrently the Government also will today move an amendment to the Plant Protection Act to ensure that the recommendations contained within the Watson report can be implemented.
“When sugarcane smut was first discovered, as part of the original June, 2006 containment and eradication response, smut-susceptible varieties were removed from the Bundaberg approved varieties list in August 2006, leaving some Bundaberg growers with insufficient planting material for an autumn 2007 planting.
“Current operation of the Plant Protection Act 1989 will not allow for the re-listing of smut-susceptible varieties for planting and this has resulted in an inconsistency whereby only Bundaberg growers are not allowed to plant susceptible varieties.
“To abolish that inequity we are moving quickly to amend the Act, so as to provide the chief executive with the power to amend the Approved Varieties Declaration,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
In the longer term, the integrity of Queensland’s biosecurity legislation will be assured by a comprehensive review, in which industry will be fully consulted, to be completed by June 2008, Mr Mulherin said.
“What we have done today, yet again, shows the Queensland Government’s commitment to the industry, and even more importantly to growers.
“Every step of the way we have worked with our stakeholders, including BSES, Canegrowers and the Australian Sugar Milling Council.
“Our resolve has been in direct contrast to the Federal Government that has turned its back on growers, refusing to contribute either financially or even as a member of Dr Watson’s working party.’’
Media: 32396530
* A full copy of Dr Watson’s report can be found at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Mr Mulherin tabled the report today in State Parliament.
“Dr Watson has provided a thorough independent assessment of the impact of the disease on the sugar industry and made a number of important recommendations to facilitate economic recovery.
“The report, The Economic Impact of Sugarcane Smut on the Queensland Sugarcane Industry, was presented to myself and the Minister for State Development John Mickel,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
The report was commissioned in November last year when it became clear that cane smut was widespread and established and that it was no longer possible to prevent or control its spread, having been discovered first in the Bundaberg-Childers region, then Mackay and the Herbert.
“The Queensland Government then moved from a science-based, industry-approved, containment and eradication approach to a long-term economic management approach,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“This approach was driven largely by industry and supported by Canegrowers, BSES and the Australian Sugar Milling Council. ‘’
Mr Mulherin told State Parliament today that, according to the Watson report, the impact of sugarcane smut was not as great as was initially expected.
“The report contains a number of recommendations, including:
• Normal planting should continue uninterrupted;
• The industry should replace smut-susceptible varieties with smut resistant varieties during their normal cycle;
• Decisions relating to the approved variety lists for planting should be made on the basis of consultation with and advice from BSES and industry in each of Queensland’s six Pest Quarantine Areas and
• That the Government should increase its input into research and the breeding of smut-resistant varieties of cane.
“Concurrently the Government also will today move an amendment to the Plant Protection Act to ensure that the recommendations contained within the Watson report can be implemented.
“When sugarcane smut was first discovered, as part of the original June, 2006 containment and eradication response, smut-susceptible varieties were removed from the Bundaberg approved varieties list in August 2006, leaving some Bundaberg growers with insufficient planting material for an autumn 2007 planting.
“Current operation of the Plant Protection Act 1989 will not allow for the re-listing of smut-susceptible varieties for planting and this has resulted in an inconsistency whereby only Bundaberg growers are not allowed to plant susceptible varieties.
“To abolish that inequity we are moving quickly to amend the Act, so as to provide the chief executive with the power to amend the Approved Varieties Declaration,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
In the longer term, the integrity of Queensland’s biosecurity legislation will be assured by a comprehensive review, in which industry will be fully consulted, to be completed by June 2008, Mr Mulherin said.
“What we have done today, yet again, shows the Queensland Government’s commitment to the industry, and even more importantly to growers.
“Every step of the way we have worked with our stakeholders, including BSES, Canegrowers and the Australian Sugar Milling Council.
“Our resolve has been in direct contrast to the Federal Government that has turned its back on growers, refusing to contribute either financially or even as a member of Dr Watson’s working party.’’
Media: 32396530
* A full copy of Dr Watson’s report can be found at www.dpi.qld.gov.au