The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven introduced the new Biosecurity Bill 2024 to the South Australian Legislative Council on 29 August 2024. If passed, it will become the Biosecurity Act.
This follows a State Government review of various biosecurity legislation which initially included the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Act 1995 (Phylloxera Act). However, strong industry support for the Phylloxera Act during the consultation phase saw the Act excluded. No significant changes to the Phylloxera Act are expected.
The new Biosecurity Act aims to provide a contemporary framework for the protection of South Australia’s agribusiness sector and consolidates several existing Acts: Plant Health Act 2009, Livestock Act 1997, Dog Fence Act 1946, Impounding Act 1920 and relevant provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 2007.
“Vinehealth commends the South Australian Government for developing a new Biosecurity Bill to strengthen our biosecurity system, to keep our primary industries safe and ensure we can respond to future pest and disease challenges,” said Vinehealth Australia CEO Sam Scarratt.
“And we commend the government for excluding thePhylloxera Act which has been serving the grape and wine industry effectively for almost 125 years. Thanks to the foresight of our past champions of viticulture, the Phylloxera Act, established in 1899 and the only one of its kind in Australia, is the reason for our focused efforts to keep phylloxera out of our State.”
The South Australian Government has confirmed: “There would not be any significant changes to the operation of the P&GI (Phylloxera) Act under the proposed Biosecurity Act. The P&GI (Phylloxera) Act is not consolidated into the draft Biosecurity Bill. Vinehealth Australia would continue its role under the P&GI (Phylloxera) Act unchanged, including maintenance of the Vineyard Register, working alongside PIRSA to support emergency responses affecting the grape and wine industries, and raising awareness of biosecurity issues amongst industry. PIRSA would continue to have responsibility for the regulation of plant pests and diseases, as well as lead responsibility for emergency responses, as is the case currently under the Plant Health Act 2009.”
The Biosecurity Bill 2024 has recommended several minor amendments to the Phylloxera Act, including:
- Changing the title of Chief Inspector to Chief Plant Protection Officer/Chief Officer.
- Changing the title of Vinehealth Australia Board members from inspectors to authorised officers. For an outline of authorised officer roles and responsibilities, read the Biosecurity Bill 2024.
- In an emergency, the Biosecurity Bill would prevail over all relevant legislation other than the Emergency Management Act. This includes the Phylloxera Act, but is not specific to it, rather a general failsafe mechanism to allow decisive action when required in a biosecurity emergency.
Vinehealth Australia will continue to work with PIRSA and keep industry up to date with the development of the new Biosecurity Act.
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