SHAPING VICTORIA’S BIOSECURITY FUTURE

Joining the conversation to shape Victoria’s biosecurity future

By Bridie L Walsh,

Biosecurity and Agriculture Services, Agriculture Victoria “Good biosecurity benefits not only our members, but also everyone in the community,” CEO Craig Taberner said to experts from across industry, community and government during Agriculture Victoria’s Shaping Victoria’s Biosecurity Future workshop held in June.

With the ever-increasing rise of biosecurity threats and demand on the system, Agriculture Victoria called on all those who play a role in our biosecurity system to ‘join the conversation’ about strengthening biosecurity in Victoria. Nursing and Garden Industry Victoria’s (NGIV) answered that call.

“Biosecurity is a key pillar to protect the industry,” Craig said.

The viability and sustainability of the nursery and garden industries depend on strong biosecurity. With NGIV members leaders in nursery exports, significant volumes leave Victoria every day. Quality product and market access is critical for members. The industry not only produces stock for other commodity groups but also a third of Australia’s green life.

“What I’d like to see in a new approach for biosecurity is government leveraging from the existing connections with industry and a genuine commitment to develop and forge stronger partnerships.”

Examining the statewide interview and survey results

The workshop comes off the back of Agriculture Victoria’s engagement with more than 1500 farmers, businesses, industry groups, and community members via one on one interviews and a statewide survey on our biosecurity system. This included views from other government jurisdictions and Victoria’s First Nations people.

The data from the interviews and survey showed that:

» We need to be prepared for biosecurity risks. Not enough farms and business have biosecurity plans, with only 61 per cent of farms and 43 per cent of business surveyed having plans in place.

» Peak bodies are a key part of the information chain, but there’s opportunities to connect with landowners outside these networks.

» Finally, there is opportunity to improve the sharing of information and intelligence, and use our industry and community networks, our eyes and ears on the ground, to ensure that reporting biosecurity incident becomes a reflex action.

A clear message from the survey and interviews is that together government, industry and community need to continue to build capacity and capability in the face of inevitable and growing biosecurity risks. The next step is to better coordinate our collective resources, knowledge, and expertise to foster a more resilient biosecurity future for Victoria.

Collective conversations

Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas opened the workshop and said, “We are at a point where this collective discussion on the challenges and opportunities has the potential to lead to real change for the system – strengthening our partnerships, modernising our legislation and regulatory approaches, enhancing preparedness and resilience, and improving how we share information across the system.”

The workshop brought together a wide range of sectors from the meat and livestock, dairy, horticulture and grains industries, to community groups like Landcare, representative bodies such as the Invasive Species Council, Local, State and Federal governments and members from retail, wholesale, transport and distribution sectors.

Together participants identified opportunities for forging genuine partnerships and building capacity on farms, in industry and through community to lead some of the biosecurity effort and investment to strengthen the system.

Minister Thomas affirmed, “We want to foster more collective approaches in biosecurity, ensuring the continued strong performance of Victoria’s biosecurity system.

More information

A workshop report will be available in the coming weeks which will outline the outcomes and potential opportunities for investment and action. Add your voice, make sure you register to receive information about future initiatives and events to strengthening Victoria’s biosecurity system and learn more at agriculture.vic.gov.au/svbs-program

RETAIL STATE OF PLAY

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Change is good

In my last article I wrote about ‘Time to Plan’ and that is what GCA did over winter. We now have a wonderful new lady helping us with social media and other areas. In fact, Jane is reviewing everything that GCA does, and we are excited. So, if you are not a member of GCA, Australia’s Peak Body for Retail Garden Centres, then please email me for further information on GCA and Garden Releaf. Covid of course affected 2020 and has again reared its ugly head in 2021 but the industry fought back and beat it. August of course sees customers starting to flock into centers so make sure you are ready. Signage needs to be current staff need to be well briefed – service is the key. Inspirational displays are essential. If you want to interact with other Garden Centres then apply to join the GCA Chat Room on (1) Garden Centres of Australia Chat Room | Facebook

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Leigh Siebler Garden Centres of Australia | e: leigh.siebler@bigpond.com www.gardenreleaf.com.au