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Australian Biosecurity Awards 2019

Australian Biosecurity Awards 20192019 Award recipients

The David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award

recognises an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to biosecurity integrity in Australia over a matter of years.

Australian Biosecurity Award – Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year category

Recognises Australian primary producers, including individuals and organisations, that have demonstrated outstanding on-farm biosecurity practices

Australian Biosecurity Award – Industry category

Recognises individuals, groups or organisations in industry that have demonstrated a significant contribution to maintaining Australia’s biosecurity integrity

Australian Biosecurity Award – Government category

Recognises individuals, groups or organisations within government that have demonstrated a significant contribution to maintaining Australia’s biosecurity integrity

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 1


ContentsAustralian Biosecurity Awards 2019................................................................................................1

Contents..................................................................................................................................2

From the Deputy Secretary......................................................................................................2

The David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award.......................................................2

Mike Ashton, Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries................................................................................2

Australian Biosecurity Awards - Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Category.....................2

Melinee Leather......................................................................................................................2

Strawberry Springs Pty Ltd......................................................................................................2

Australian Biosecurity Awards - Industry Category...................................................................2

DHL Global Forwarding (Australia) Pty Ltd..............................................................................2

Centre for Invasive Species Solutions......................................................................................2

Sione (John) Matakaiongo, Hager Electro...............................................................................2

Nathan Hancock, Citrus Australia............................................................................................2

Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid-West, Southern and Fremantle Ports Authorities.............................2

Australian Biosecurity Awards - Government Category............................................................2

Aquatic Biosecurity, Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources.....................................................................2

Apiary Program, Agriculture Victoria.......................................................................................2

Greater Sydney Local Land Services........................................................................................2

Sarah Corcoran, Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources.....................................................................2

Aquatic Pest Biosecurity, Western Australian Department of Primary Industry and Resources..........................................................................................2

National Biosecurity Statement................................................................................................2

2020 Australian Biosecurity Awards.........................................................................................2



From the Deputy SecretaryWelcome to the 2019 Australian Biosecurity Awards. These awards continue our longstanding commitment to acknowledging and celebrating the achievement of the winners as they help ensure a strong biosecurity system.

Their stories show the breadth and importance of biosecurity and provide a powerful demonstration of our shared responsibility as we work together protecting Australia from new and established biosecurity threats.

Biosecurity threats are not limited to agriculture – our key responsibility to protect our unique environment is now recognised with the appointment of our inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer. We look forward to future nominations that support the protection of the Australian environment.

The threats we are facing continue to grow, not just as trade and international travel increases but as new and existing pests and diseases spread around the world.

Committed to building a smarter system to meet these challenges, this has seen investments in new technologies such as the world’s first biosecurity 3D X-ray unit at Melbourne Airport, robotics, and next generation gene sequencing. We are also looking to improve our processes, using analytics and intelligence, and engaging closely with our stakeholders.

Industry organisations, individual producers, Indigenous and community groups, research institutes and state and territory departments are following suit. They are adopting and expanding traceability programs, emerging technologies, and new biological controls, as well as developing biosecurity planning and response capabilities.

The Australian Biosecurity Awards acknowledge these efforts by recognising organisations, groups and individuals who work closely with the Australian Government to support and promote Australia’s biosecurity and its systems.

The winners this year show us all how we can actively work together to put the concept of shared responsibility into action.

I would like to thank Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia for their continued support of the Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Award.

I congratulate this year’s winners and thank them for their work and contribution to Australia’s biosecurity system.

Lyn O’Connell PSM

Deputy Secretary

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources



The David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement AwardMike AshtonBiosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Mike Ashton’s visionary approach, enthusiasm and willingness to contribute to national plant biosecurity enhancements have made him a highly-respected member of Australia’s biosecurity community.

Mike has been instrumental in influencing the paradigm shift of ‘shared responsibility’ and his many achievements over more than 30 years have had a lasting impact on the nation’s biosecurity.

In 1985, Mike joined the then Queensland Department of Primary Industries as a cadet biosecurity inspector, and later took on several roles in plant biosecurity policy and business management. Following a papaya fruit fly outbreak in the late 1990s, Mike was inspired to create a national plant biosecurity certification scheme that would increase flexibility in managing plant biosecurity risks while ensuring market access.

Mike was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) Scheme, which pioneered the concept of shared biosecurity responsibility between government and industry. The scheme received a National Biosecurity Award for contribution to plant quarantine.

In 2014, Mike was appointed general manager of the Plant Biosecurity and Product Integrity Program.

He is a long-standing member of the national Plant Health Committee and Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests, and has represented Queensland as the state’s chief plant health manager. He has had a close and supportive connection with the Australian Melon Association, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, Plant Health Australia, and Nursery and Garden Industry Australia, guiding them through many biosecurity incursions and new initiatives.

Mike led the $18.5 million National Citrus Canker Eradication Program from 2004 to 2009, which saw the successful eradication of the disease and the restoration of Australia’s national plant health status.

Throughout his career, Mike has championed plant industries managing their biosecurity risks. Mike is deeply committed and his willingness to share knowledge with industry to develop collective solutions makes him a stand-out member of the Australian biosecurity community. His mentorship of Queensland Government staff, the staff of other government agencies, industry and organisations has seen his knowledge and passion applied across the broader biosecurity system.

Mike was nominated for the award by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, the Australian Melon Association Inc, Growcom, Nursery and Garden Industry Australia, Plant Health Australia and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

The nomination was compiled by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award is dedicated to the memory of Dr David Banks.



Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year CategoryMelinee LeatherCattle producer Melinee Leather is a strong advocate for the importance of biosecurity practices to the long-term viability of individual businesses and the beef industry as a whole.

Melinee, and her husband Rob, are leaders in applying sound on-farm biosecurity and animal welfare practices on their properties and sharing their knowledge with others.

Melinee has spent decades improving the biosecurity credentials of the family’s properties and sharing her expertise with others around the world. With organic, European Union, grasslands and grazing best management practice accreditations, the properties have a strong focus on sustainability, biosecurity, the environment and animal welfare.

The biosecurity plans and systems for the properties include suitable quarantine paddocks as well as a requirement for all introduced cattle to have national vendor declarations, animal health statements and lifetime traceability. They maintain visitor logs and—unusually for the cattle sector—employ footbaths for visitors and wash-down facilities for vehicles.

Melinee and Rob have been generous in sharing their expertise in biosecurity, animal welfare and production with farmer groups in their local area, interstate and overseas. In the last three years, they have hosted countless visitors from universities, government and industry, including delegations from the United States, Italy, Germany and Denmark.

Melinee is the chair of the farming systems committee for the National Farmers Federation and a member of the sustainability steering group for the Red Meat Advisory Council. She has served as the chair of the Cattle Council of Australia’s animal health, welfare and biosecurity committee, the inaugural director of Livestock Biosecurity Network Pty Ltd, vice president and cattle board director of AgForce, and a councillor of the Road Freight Industry Council.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has previously recognised Melinee and Rob as ‘biosecurity champions’ for a film promoting good biosecurity practices within the beef industry. The couple have also featured in a video for Future Beef, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Queensland Government on animal welfare standards.

Melinee’s increasing network of beef industry contacts, combined with her willingness to share her experience, present a great opportunity for Australia to showcase the advances being made in this industry to the world.

Melinee was nominated for the award by Justin Toohey, from J Toohey and Associates Pty Ltd.



Strawberry Springs Pty LtdYarra Valley strawberry grower and industry leader Luciano Corallo is committed to applying best practice biosecurity measures across his farm.

He places high value on the economic, environmental and social returns from adopting a preventative approach, and maintains an exceptional standard for the strawberry industry.

From the moment visitors and staff arrive at Luciano Corallo’s farm, they’re greeted with signs that ensure biosecurity awareness is at the front of their minds. The signs prevent customers from entering the production area, while advising contractors and site visitors to report to the main shed and use a foot bath or wear foot covers to reduce the risk of pests and diseases. It’s just one of the many steps Luciano has taken to ensure his farm is at the forefront of farm management best practice, quality assurance, and biosecurity protocols.

He is a committee member of the Victorian Strawberry Growers Association and one of two Victorian representatives on the board of peak industry body Strawberries Australia. Luciano’s biosecurity advocacy and leadership are highly valued by the industry.

He hosts biosecurity planning workshops with the strawberry industry, demonstrating good biosecurity practices on his farm.

Luciano is an early adopter of best practice farm management, with 100 per cent groundcover maintained year round on headlands and buffers, grassed swales for drainage and crop rotation. His farm exemplifies an integrated pest management approach to production, and is a demonstration site for encouraging natural enemies as part of conservation biological control options.

Luciano is also involved in the Queensland fruit fly awareness program in the Yarra Valley, with state-of-the-art, remotely-accessed camera fruit fly traps as part of a sentinel detection network for the region. He plays an active and vocal role in encouraging others at industry events to participate in the program and be prepared for an early response to any incursion.

Luciano Corallo was nominated for the award by Karen Thomas, from the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority.



Industry CategoryDHL Global Forwarding (Australia) Pty LtdAustralia’s largest customs brokerage DHL Global Forwarding was influential in supporting reforms to automatic entry processing for commodities (AEPCOMM).

The company’s proactive approach to working with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources—led by national manager Bill Wray—was a key factor in the success of the reforms and demonstrates a strong commitment to the nation’s biosecurity.

In 2015, the department initiated an AEPCOMM reform project to increase industry participation in the arrangement. AEPCOMM is an arrangement that allows customs brokers and self-reporting importers to assess import documentation and direct specified commodities through the border clearance process without departmental intervention.

DHL Global Forwarding was actively involved in the reform from 2015 to 2018, ensuring the changes were fit for purpose, user-friendly and met the needs of industry stakeholders. The company’s guidance shaped the design of the AEPCOMM system and its involvement in the system roll out was essential to confirm the success of the release.

National manager Bill Wray represented DHL Global Forwarding on the industry working group, contributing strongly to the discussions and providing constructive feedback on the proposed changes.

Bill and customs broker Mary-Anne Mehl coordinated the internal team, who assisted with the system release of new AEP functionality, with the company providing short notice feedback on documents relating to the management of brown marmorated stink bug.

Bill invited the project team to meet experienced customs brokers in DHL Global Forwarding’s Melbourne office and to present the changes at their national conference. He advocated for the use of AEPCOMM amongst their customs brokers and is examining the systems and processes that support use of the arrangement within the organisation.

Since the reforms were implemented in 2018, the project team and DHL Global Forwarding have continued their productive and collaborative working relationship, regularly discussing system performance, operational issues and further improvements. The relationship will continue through future initiatives to improve Australia's biosecurity integrity.

DHL Global Forwarding was nominated for the award by Julie Weymouth, from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.



Centre for Invasive Species SolutionsThe Centre for Invasive Species Solutions worked with government agencies, industry and the community to target one of Australia’s worst biosecurity pests—European rabbits.

Through this collaboration, they coordinated the release of a new virus strain into the population that resulted in a 36 per cent drop in rabbit numbers at release sites and, in the process, set up Australia’s first National Biocontrol Monitoring Program.

European rabbits are Australia’s most destructive agricultural and environmental vertebrate pest. They cause approximately $216 million in lost agricultural production every year and impact 321 native threatened flora and fauna species.

Australia has been managing rabbits on a landscape-scale for decades, with the release of the Myxoma virus in the 1950s and a Czech strain of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) in the 1990s. These two agents are estimated to have provided more than $70 billion benefit to agricultural industries but, since 2003, rabbit numbers have been on the rise again.

In 2009, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (known then as the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre) began a research project to search for a new virus to ’boost’ rabbit biocontrol in Australia. In March 2017, the virus—a new strain of RHDV1 (termed K5)—was released into Australia’s rabbit population.

The project involved more than 350 community groups, farmers, land managers, local government authorities and volunteers, who became citizen scientists in Australia’s largest nationally coordinated rabbit biocontrol release. Participants were involved in the release of the virus, monitored rabbit populations, and collected and submitted hundreds of tissue samples for laboratory analysis. This confirmed the presence of RHDV1 K5 in all states and territories, except the Northern Territory.

The results from these samples can be viewed through the Rabbit Biocontrol Tracker map, allowing land managers and researchers to see where rabbit biocontrol agents are present across the landscape.

The nationally coordinated and community-led collaboration involved the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, all state and territory governments, industry bodies such as Australian Wool Innovation and Meat and Livestock Australia, as well as the CSIRO.

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions was nominated for the award by the Centre’s communications manager, Dr Ian McDonald.



Sione (John) MatakaiongoHager Electro

When numerous live, adult brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) hitchhiked their way to Australia in a shipping container packed with electrical components, Hager Electro immediately raised the alarm.

Hager Electro warehouse manager Sione (John) Matakaiongo found exotic bugs in a shipment from northern Italy in 2017. Although he didn’t recognise the species, John immediately contacted biosecurity authorities. In making the decision, John put aside his own interests and those of his company and put the welfare of Australia first.

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources officers inspected the infested premises the same day and identified the pests as BMSB. These invasive insects are on the National Priority Plant Pest List and cause serious production losses to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.

BMSBs also have a habit of spending the winter in homes and releasing an unpleasant odour when disturbed. BMSB detections are not uncommon on imported goods in Australia but this encounter was significant because the BMSB were found outside the warehouse, raising the possibility of other insects having spread into the local environment.

For several weeks following the detection, surveillance teams from Greater Sydney Local Land Services searched bushland and industrial areas around the warehouse for potential escapees. The weather was extremely hot, so Hager Electro opened air-conditioned areas at the factory to team members. Hager Electro also allowed the factory to be fogged with insecticide on three occasions, used forklifts to give the surveillance team access to elevated parts of the factory (such as skylights), and allowed surveillance staff to park vehicles in the company’s parking area.

The company’s actions made a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the surveillance campaign.

Hager Electro are joint winners with Greater Sydney Local Land Services of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

Hager Electro was nominated for the award by Martin Horwood, from Greater Sydney Local Land Services.



Nathan HancockCitrus Australia

Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock is a strong advocate for biosecurity within the citrus industry.

He has overseen additional biosecurity resources for the citrus industry through the recent citrus canker emergency response, the appointment of a National Citrus Surveillance coordinator, and worked closely with all levels of government to ensure resources are used for best effect.

Nathan has worked in the horticulture industry for 19 years and the citrus industry for the past 12 years, beginning in Western Australia where he was the industry development officer for the WA Department of Agriculture and Food.

Since commencing with Citrus Australia in 2011, Nathan has been instrumental in the adoption of new maturity and quality standards in the national industry. He has been the driver behind improved industry statistics including the citrus tree census, national plantings database, production forecast model and the online export application system.

Nathan was the national industry liaison officer for the recent citrus canker outbreak in the Northern Territory. He had been chief executive for only six months at the time of the outbreak but fully embraced the role, travelling to Darwin to aid communication and interactions with government.

His knowledge, pragmatism and consideration of all stakeholders made him a valued partner for government. Throughout the response, Nathan continued to advocate for greater communication with industry to help address potential misunderstandings and expectations.

Nathan is highly active in representing his industry and producers generally at all levels of government, as well as advocating for biosecurity. He volunteered to speak at both the 2018 Victorian and Northern Territory Biosecurity Roundtables, the National Biosecurity Roundtable and is the industry representative on the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests and the National Management Group. Nathan remains committed to working with government to ensure Australia’s biosecurity in the best interest of industry.

Nathan is a joint winner with Sarah Corcoran, from the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources, of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

Nathan Hancock was nominated for the award by Alicia Zahmel, from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.



Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid-West, Southern and Fremantle Ports AuthoritiesThese five ports authorities in Western Australia have voluntarily implemented the State-Wide Array Surveillance Program (SWASP), a world-first in the use of molecular techniques by a collaborative marine biosecurity surveillance network.

They and the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) share the costs and management of marine biosecurity surveillance, to achieve a coordinated response to potential introduced marine pests within Western Australian ports.

The SWASP network includes 11 ports and spans 11,000km of coastline, from Western Australia’s tropical north to the temperate south.

Twice a year, in summer and winter, the port authorities’ staff deploy a network of settlement arrays into waters at ports across the state. The arrays are soaked for two months, during which time small plates within the arrays act as a substrate for marine growth. At the end of the soak period, the port authorities’ staff remove the settlement plates from the arrays, photograph, freeze and send the plates to DPIRD’s Aquatic Pest Biosecurity unit in Perth. DPIRD’s biosecurity scientists extract the DNA, which is then processed using molecular techniques.

Each sample is compared against a reference library of DNA from known marine pest species developed by the Aquatic Pest Biosecurity unit as well as publicly available databases. If a match is found, it indicates the potential presence of that species within the port.

SWASP requires significant support from all WA ports authorities to operate effectively, with seven environment staff dedicating an estimated 525 hours per year to implement the program. This includes equipment preparation, deployment and retrieval of settlement arrays, sample plate preparation and transport, and review, analysis and communication of report data.

SWASP began as a three port program and was expanded to all Western Australian port authorities in 2016, resulting in 37 settlement arrays yielding 592 plates per year.

In 2019 SWASP will be implemented at five Queensland ports (Brisbane, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville) as a pilot study that may guide expansion into other Australian ports in the future.

Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid-West, Southern and Fremantle Ports Authorities are joint winners with Aquatic Pest Biosecurity DPIRD of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

The Pilbara, Kimberley, Mid-West, Southern and Fremantle Ports Authorities were nominated by Dan Pedersen, from Pilbara Ports Authority.



Government CategoryAquatic BiosecurityNorthern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources

The Aquatic Biosecurity team has been working to maintain the highest biosecurity standards in the Northern Territory for the past 20 years.

This small team is punching above its weight in its efforts to mitigate the risk of aquatic pests coming to Australian shores.

The Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources’ Aquatic Biosecurity team operates in a challenging and remote environment. The Northern Territory’s vast coastline and isolation pose an extreme risk as an entry point for exotic pests and diseases, while its near-pristine environment attracts visitors from all over the world. It is also close to our South East Asian neighbours and there is the potential for serious aquatic pests and diseases to reach Australia by sea.

The Aquatic Biosecurity team was established following a black-striped mussel infestation in Darwin’s marinas in 1999. With only a fraction of the staff and resources of the state aquatic biosecurity sections, the specialist Aquatic Biosecurity team has been able to successfully monitor, control and eradicate aquatic pests that could otherwise significantly affect the aquaculture industry and damage the environment.

The team is responsible for a myriad of functions, including freshwater pest programs, marine pest monitoring and fish kill investigations. They are responsible for public awareness programs, ranger engagement, and vessel biofouling risk assessments and inspections. They have also been involved in surveillance for white spot disease in prawns.

Despite its small size, the team has been able to meet biosecurity targets through careful planning and the best use of resources. Key relationships have been fostered with Aboriginal rangers, the NT Water Police, all Northern Territory ports, aquatic industries, other aquatic stakeholders and the general public. These relationships ensure the best possible biosecurity strategies are in place to help protect the aquatic industries and environment.

The Aquatic Biosecurity team was nominated for the award by Brian Hennessy, from the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources.



Apiary ProgramAgriculture Victoria

Agriculture Victoria’s Apiary Program has partnered with industry to systematically build the capability of Victorian beekeepers, beekeeping clubs and its own staff to respond to an incursion of Varroa destructor.

The apiary emergency response model was tested by the detection and successful eradication of V. destructor at the Port of Melbourne in June 2018.

Australia is one of the last remaining countries to be free of V. destructor, a blood-sucking mite that has devastated bee colonies in New Zealand, the United States and Europe. If introduced to Australia, V. destructor would have dramatic long-term consequences for the apiary industry, agriculture production and the general community.

To prepare for an incursion of the mite, Agriculture Victoria’s Apiary Program worked with industry to develop the Victoria State Quarantine Response Team, or SQRT. This team of 150 private beekeepers are trained and nationally-accredited to be deployed in the field, under the direct supervision of an authorised officer, in the event of a V. destructor detection. SQRT members provide the increased technical capacity required to undertake effective and timely emergency response activities.

Upon deployment for either an in-field exercise or emergency response, SQRT members access pre-prepared Agriculture Victoria ‘go kits’, which have all the materials needed to conduct in-hive activities related to surveillance or destruction. Best practice biosecurity protocols are observed and go kits are left at each field site to minimise translocation of pest and disease.

Victoria’s emergency response model was tested in June 2018 with the detection of V. destructor at the Port of Melbourne. The detection saw the first ever formal deployment of SQRT field team members in Victoria, and established industry confidence in Agriculture Victoria as an emergency response incident manager.

The Apiary Program trains and supports several apiarist biosecurity officers—volunteers with specialist skills and biosecurity knowledge, who offer advice to the wider community and undertake initial assessment of suspect reports. The Apiary Program also provides Varroa sp. proof of freedom for Victoria via the ‘sugar shake’ program.

The Apiary Program was nominated for the award by Sharyn Williams from Agriculture Victoria.



Greater Sydney Local Land ServicesGreater Sydney Local Land Services led an exhaustive on-ground campaign in response to the discovery of a large group of adult brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) in a shipping container in Glendenning.

The response involved about 30 per cent of the organisation’s staff, with people of diverse skillsets making time to do this priority work in the national biosecurity interest.

Greater Sydney Local Land Services were called in after BMSB were found in a shipment from northern Italy. Led by plant biosecurity officer Martin Horwood, a team of 15 staff signed up to the response campaign, working around the clock to determine if BMSB had spread further than the ‘hot zone.’ The response lasted more than six months through the height of summer, with staff engaging with local schools, businesses and private landholders to raise awareness of the BMSB threat. Halfway through managing this first detection, a second detection was made at an industrial site 10 kilometres away and the response was rapidly expanded to include this new site.

A key feature of the response was the high degree of collaboration across a range of skillsets. An information technology specialist, for example, rapidly-designed customised field tools to map the operation and allow field officers to record data in real-time using iPads.

The communications department worked with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) to raise public awareness with a highly-successful social media campaign and a series of media articles.

The team deployed and inspected about 200 insect traps on a weekly basis and sprayed all vegetation around the detection sites. They scoured more than 300 hectares of bushland, industrial areas and local homes for the pest, and built the capacity of the local community to undertake its own surveillance and report suspect detections.

In total, this effort represented roughly 4,500 hours of work across the organisation. The team went above and beyond to protect against the yield losses and negative social impacts that could have been caused by BMSB. The on-ground response was delivered under the auspice of NSW DPI.

Greater Sydney Local Land Services are joint winners with Hager Electro of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

Greater Sydney Local Land Services was nominated for the award by the Services’ biosecurity manager Graham Wilson.



Sarah CorcoranNorthern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources

Sarah Corcoran’s passion for biosecurity has seen her dedicate more than 20 years to the prevention, response and recovery from pest and diseases that threaten the economy and environment.

Sarah’s communication skills have seen her excel in establishing relationships with all players involved in emergency responses, notably the nationally significant 2018 citrus canker emergency response.

Sarah’s career has taken her from operational entomologist with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service in Queensland to the executive director of Biosecurity and Animal Welfare in the Northern Territory. Her career highlights include more than 10 years with Biosecurity Queensland, a solid training ground for many pest and disease responses, including myrtle rust, red witch weed, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, Asian honey bee, Hendra virus and tomato yellow leaf curl virus.

Sarah also led and managed two of Australia’s largest national eradication programs, removing red imported fire ants and electric ants from the country.

In 2016, Sarah joined the Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources as Chief Plant Health Officer. Within two years, she was appointed Executive Director of the Biosecurity and Animal Welfare Division, where she leads a team of technical, operational, policy and scientific staff.

In April 2018, Sarah received a report of citrus canker on lime plants in Darwin and took the lead for the emergency response. Citrus canker is a serious disease impacting on citrus production and is the subject of a number of control and eradication programs around the world, presenting a significant challenge in a multi-state outbreak. Sarah opened the lines of communication with industry, government, states and territory departments and, most importantly, growers and the community. Her handling of the response was widely complemented.

Sarah is a joint winner with Nathan Hancock, from Citrus Australia, of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

Sarah was nominated for the award by Jenny Logan, from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.



Aquatic Pest BiosecurityWestern Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

The State-Wide Array Surveillance Program (SWASP) combines innovative and emerging molecular techniques with a collaborative marine biosecurity surveillance network.

The innovative program delivers a significantly cheaper, more accurate and easier approach to the early detection and identification of introduced marine pests, setting a new benchmark for marine biosecurity.

Through SWASP, samples of DNA are regularly collected from settlement arrays deployed at ports around Western Australia, processed using next-generation sequencing technology and compared against a reference library of DNA from known marine pest species.

The program began in 2010 to provide the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and WA Port Authorities with an early warning system to detect and respond quickly to a potential marine pest incursion. The key difference between SWASP and earlier versions of the program, which relied on morphological identification of marine life, is the speed and accuracy with which a target marine pest can be detected.

Previously some organisms would have to be sent to expert taxonomists around the world for specialist identification and this process could take months.

To ensure SWASP offered robust detection capabilities, the Aquatic Pest Biosecurity unit developed its own taxonomic and molecular reference database to combine with emerging molecular diagnostics. The use of next-generation sequencing quickly and accurately determines whether a potential pest is present, even at microscopic or larval life stages.

The collaborative approach between WA Port Authorities and DPIRD has increased communication and understanding of the risk that marine pests pose to Western Australia. It has led to a more proactive approach in this field and the establishment of strong stakeholder relationships, resulting in greater awareness and better education of marine biosecurity issues by port users both nationally and internationally.

The result is a far-reaching and inclusive surveillance program that has significantly improved environmental outcomes for Western Australia, fostering collaborative stakeholder relationships and best practice biosecurity surveillance. SWASP currently operates in eleven ports within Western Australia and the program continues to grow, adapt and integrate emerging technologies over time.

Aquatic Pest Biosecurity are joint winners with WA Port Authorities of a collaborative Industry/Government award.

The SWASP was nominated for the award by Dan Pedersen, from Pilbara Ports Authority.



National Biosecurity StatementNature makes Australia unique – biosecurity keeps it that way.

Biosecurity protects Australian livelihoods and is vital to strengthening and supporting our environment and economy, including tourism, trade and agriculture. It underpins many aspects of our way of life.

Australia prides itself on its unique natural environment, high-quality produce and trusted international reputation. We Australians benefit from this and have a duty to protect our land and seas from the arrival of new pests, weeds and diseases.

We are also obliged to limit the damaging and costly impacts of the pests, weeds and diseases already here and to avoid adding to that burden.

Our biosecurity system works both at the border and here at home to prevent and respond to the arrival and spread of harmful pests and diseases that could disrupt much of what we love about this country.

Due to our clean and green reputation we are regarded as a responsible and reliable trading nation. Strong biosecurity measures help us to continue to grow safe and sought-after Australian produce for ourselves and the rest of the world.

The arrival and spread of damaging invasive species could have wide-ranging short- and long-term consequences for industry, land use and community needs.

A single incursion could harm human health and the environmental resources we all need and use—including water supply, soil and ecosystems.

Australia’s national biosecurity system relies on partnerships between the Australian and state, territory and local governments, industry, environmental bodies, land managers and the broader public. This system is facing new challenges arising from a significant increase in global trade and travel.

Maintaining Australia’s resilient and world-leading approach requires continuous research and innovation and a constant commitment to prevention and response.

What You Can Do Each one of us has a role to play in keeping Australia safe from harmful pests and diseases.

If you see something unusual, report it.

Know your legal responsibilities when travelling and moving goods.

Recognise your role in promoting and raising awareness of biosecurity.

Everyone can share the vision of an effective and sustainable national biosecurity system. We should:

strive for prevention and early action to ensure a very low risk of new harmful pests and diseases entering, establishing and spreading.



minimise the impact of established pests and diseases on our environment, economy, industries and communities.

maintain and grow domestic and international travel and trade access.

protect and restore Australia’s unique biodiversity, ecosystems, natural resources and landscapes.

We all share the risks. We all share the benefits. We must all share the responsibility of protecting our unique natural environment.



2020 Australian Biosecurity AwardsDo you know someone or an organisation who has contributed to our biosecurity outcomes?

The Australian Biosecurity Awards recognise individuals, groups and organisations in industry and government that show a commitment to working collaboratively with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to support and promote Australia's biosecurity and the systems that uphold it.

Nominations for the 2020 Awards will open in the second half of 2019 – keep up to date by following our Facebook page @Australianbiosec or on Twitter at @DeptAgNews.

Contact Usagriculture.gov.au

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Australian Biosecurity

Twitter: @DeptAgNews


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