PRESS RELEASE - 17 August 2009

A Good Start – More Action Required

The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council is the peak body representing the Australian Apiary Industry in Australia representing: the Federal Council of Australian Apiarists’ Associations, the Honey Packers and Marketers Association of Australia, the Australian Queen Bee Breeders’ Association and the National Council of Crop Pollination Associations.

On 12 August 2009 the Federal Government released its response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Resources Inquiry Report “More than Honey – the future of the Australian Honey Bee and Pollination Industries”.  This report contained some 25 recommendations (attached) relating to the ongoing wellbeing and profitability of the Australian Honey Bee and Pollination Industries.  Chairman of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Mr Lindsay Bourke, called the Government’s response to the Inquiry a good start but ongoing support and commitment by the Federal Government was essential to ensure the thrust of the report’s recommendations were implemented.

Mr Bourke noted that of the 25 recommendations that had been put forward by the Primary Industries Standing Committee only 5 had been rejected outright (17, 18, 19, 20 & 21) whilst 6, 16 & 24 were noted but not supported by the Government.  Mr Bourke also observed that ‘noted’ would seem to suggest that the Government at least recognised the importance of those recommendations.  He also indicated that of the other Report’s recommendations the Federal Government had agreed to further progress them with relevant government departments, States and other stakeholders.  Mr Bourke said “that the proof of commitment was to ensure that the 17 recommendations that the Government had supported were progressed”.

Mr Bourke said “I would like to put on record my thanks to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Resources who put together the initial report and the Government through the Hon Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry and his department for their ongoing efforts to assist stakeholders address issues facing the Honey Bee and Pollination dependent industries”.

Mr Bourke indicated that of the 25 recommendations there were certainly a large number of contentious issues and he noted that one of the important outcomes of the report was to highlight the array of issues that confronted the Australian Honey Bee and Pollination Industries.  He indicated that he welcomed the Report and the Government’s specific responses to:

1. Recognising the importance of the industry to greater Agricultural and Pastoral Industries of some $4-6 billion a year.

1. Acting on the need to increase biosecurity resources and the Government’s response included $300,000 for the next 2 years for Sentinel Hive Program and also the maintenance of a quarantine facility at Eastern Creek or at another venue.

1. Pledging greater resources to pollination and recognising the nation’s dependence on this important resource.

Industry looks forward to supporting the Government in the implementation of these recommendations.

Lindsay Bourke

Chairman

The detailed Government Response from the House of Representatives on Primary Industries and Resources - Inquiry Report “More Than Honey: the future of the honey bee and pollination industries” may be viewed by downloading the PDF version.