The Queensland government wants its federal counterparts to take action against the potential damage stink bug infestations in vehicle importation could cause.
Minister for agricultural industry development, Mark Furner, has confirmed Australian authorities managed to contain an outbreak of stink bugs on machinery imported from China.
The minister’s office says stopping the brown mamorated stink bug, which has triggered a “biosecurity emergency response” this summer, is paramount.
“Stink bug is a major agricultural pest in Europe, Asia and North America where it has attacked over 300 plants and crops including corn, soybean, apples, grapes and peaches,” he says in a statement.
“I have asked the Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud and my other state counterparts to discuss a national preparedness strategy for dealing with this pest,” Furner states.
Minister for agricultural industry development, Mark Furner. Image: Twitter/Mark Furner.
Furner says over the summer, biosecurity has maintained surveillance and trapping operations at ports in Lytton and Fisherman Islands in Brisbane, and New Chum in Ipswich, after the pest was found in three officially separate incidents.
“This week, the emergency program was lifted and response operations concluded. Relieved, Biosecurity officers have reported the three sites are now stink bug free,” he confirms.
“They were initially detected, post quarantine on a variety of imported cargo including machinery imported from China,” Furner reveals.
“Biosecurity Queensland officers worked in close partnership with staff from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to respond to the threat,” he says.
The minster says stink bug detection is increasing every year in Australia the automotive industry is partly to blame.
“Some interceptions involve entire ships with hundreds of vehicles and many hundreds or possibly thousands of BMSB throughout the holds,” he says.
“Some of these large infestations generated multiple quarantine management actions as the infested ships brought cargo to several ports around Australia,” Furner explains.
“If they ever got a foothold here… They have a wide host range, are strong flyers, are not strongly lure-responsive and will seek shelter in winter months. It’s vital we step up our prevention and eradication preparedness and protect our borders,” he warns.
“It is likely we may have to mount a significant emergency response to the pest in future.”
AutoTalk has contacted the department of agriculture and water resources for comment.
