Despite government recognition of the high threat level, Australia was poorly prepared for an incursion.
How did Australia respond to the incursion?
In April 2010, the rust was discovered at a commercial property in NSW.
Inexplicably, after just one week of searching and finding the rust in only one other nearby facility and none in surrounding bushland, the national response was stood down by a federal committee, to the consternation of scientists, conservationists and affected industry sectors.
A letter sent to federal environment minister Tony Burke by the Institute of Foresters of Australia clearly expresses this concern, warning that myrtle rust is a ‘major bio-security incursion and the consequences to our native flora and plant industries are unknown but potentially enormous’.
This concern resulted in the reinstatement of the national shared-cost response in June 2010. Finally, in December, after the disease was found in bushland at multiple sites, the rust was again deemed ineradicable.
Would Australia have been able to detect and eradicate myrtle rust if it had been better prepared and the contingency plan was immediately implemented?
That the rust may have been in Australia up to two years before it was detected suggests that eradication opportunities were lost because of a lack of surveillance. The failure to immediately dedicate national resources to eradicate the disease may cost our environment and industries that use Myrtaceae dearly.
What did we learn?
In May 2011 the Invasive Species Council proposed a Senate inquiry into the myrtle rust response so that policies and procedures can be improved by learning from its successes and failures. In 2014, the Senate held a broad-ranging inquiry to look at the failures in quarantine since 2000, including the incursion of myrtle rust in 2010. The Invasive Species Council prepared a detailed myrtle rust case study as part of its submission to the Senate inquiry.
The final report of the Senate inquiry documented deficiencies with the response to myrtle rust to highlight weaknesses in Australia’s preparedness for environmental invasive species.
Myrtle rust continues to spread across Australia. By late 2015 is was widespread in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. It has reached Tasmania where it was detected in garden plants in the NE in February 2015 and Northern Territory where it was detected on Melville Island in May 2015, The Tasmanian government is seeking to contain and eradicate myrtle rust from the state while the Northern Territory government has determined it is not possible to contain or eradicate the pathogen.
What should be done now
Review biosecurity arrangements
Conduct an independent review to consider how national and state/territory biosecurity regimes could be improved to reduce the risk of further incursions and detection/eradication of the rust should further incursions occur.
Aim to keep further strains out of Australia
High priority should be given to keeping further biotypes of eucalyptus or myrtle rust out of Australia; new strains could considerably exacerbate the disease and the number of species affected.
Conduct research to assess ecological impacts
Develop a comprehensive ecological research program to assess the likely ecological impacts of the disease and management options. A scientific panel should be established to advise on the research program and management options.
Involve environmental NGOs and agencies in response management
Ensure that environment NGOs are accorded equality with industry groups in all government processes to respond to the disease and biosecurity arrangements. Environmental agencies should be involved in all relevant government decision making. Develop cost-sharing arrangements for priority actions in the national interest: Develop a national response to myrtle rust that involves cost-sharing for high-priority actions that are primarily in the public interest.
The bigger picture
The story of myrtle rust incursion is perhaps indicative of a biosecurity system that cannot adequately protect our environment.
It appears to the Invasive Species Council that, through our national biosecurity system, the protection of Australia’s environment is undervalued in contrast to the protection of commerce and trade. Serious environmental threats are not being accorded sufficient priority.
Community participation in policy and decision-making around environmental threat should be a routine part of our national biosecurity architecture.
We have taken up these issues with government and we hope proposed improvements will be implemented.
Find out more
